IPL 2026: LSG coach Justin Langer reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi only 2nd Athlete he has asked for a Selfie

In the high-octane world of the IPL 2026, few stories have captured the imagination quite like that of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting prodigy from Rajasthan Royals.

His explosive performances have not only lit up the tournament but also drawn awe from cricket legends. Among them, Lucknow Super Giants head coach and former Australian great Justin Langer has emerged as one of Sooryavanshi’s most vocal admirers.

Langer, who has spent over 35 years in the game as a player and coach, witnessed Sooryavanshi’s brilliance firsthand when the youngster smashed 93 off just 38 balls against his LSG side. The innings helped Rajasthan Royals chase down a stiff target and kept their playoff hopes alive. Deeply impressed, Langer even interrupted Sooryavanshi’s post-match interview to request a selfie, later saying he would “treasure that photo.”

In the post-match press conference, Langer heaped lavish praise on the young batter.

“In all my time I’ve seen some amazing players in 35 years of cricket. To see a young man bat like that, not just tonight but throughout the series, is breathtaking.”

Langer emphasized the frightening potential still untapped in the teenager.

“The scary thing going forward, if the expressions on the face of Mitch Starc and Nortje and every bowler tell a story now, what about when he learns how to bat? My gosh, he’s so young. He’s a brilliant, brilliant player and it’s a real privilege to watch him bat, actually.”

The Australian legend compared Sooryavanshi’s adaptability to that of Don Bradman, noting he would evolve regardless of conditions.

“Sooryavanshi’s that good. Wherever he plays, he’s going to adapt his game… So he’ll adapt, he’ll keep getting better and better, which is scary for world cricket.”

He also posted on LinkedIn, depicting his encounter with the 15-year-old prodigy. The Australian revealed that Sooryavanshi was only the 2nd athlete ever with whom he took a selfie.

The RR batter played an even more stunning knock in the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he scored a fantastic 97 off just 29 deliveries.