Irfan Pathan Discusses Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Challenges Ahead of IPL 2026 Match

Original: “So the question is, is Vaibhav ready for this?” - Former India cricketer highlights challenges for 15-year-old in RR vs MI IPL 2026 match

Sportskeeda•Apr 7, 20263 min

In a Nutshell

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has outlined the challenges facing 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the upcoming IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. Scheduled for April 7 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, Pathan emphasizes the need for Suryavanshi to prepare for various bowling styles, particularly against renowned bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.

Key Points

01Irfan Pathan questions if Vaibhav Suryavanshi is ready for IPL challenges.
02The match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians is on April 7, 2026.
03Suryavanshi has scored 83 runs in two matches this season, including a fifty.
04Pathan advises Suryavanshi to respect bowlers and adapt to different deliveries.
05The contest between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah is highly anticipated.

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Full Summary

In anticipation of the IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 7 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has raised concerns about the readiness of 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Pathan emphasized that Suryavanshi must prepare for various bowling styles, including fuller-length deliveries and slower balls, particularly when facing MI's formidable bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. So far this season, Suryavanshi has scored 83 runs in two matches, including a fifty against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Pathan noted that Suryavanshi should not solely focus on short balls, as bowlers will also employ yorkers and bouncers to challenge him. He praised Suryavanshi's approach during a previous match against Gujarat Titans (GT), where he showed respect to the bowlers by defending deliveries outside off-stump. The upcoming match promises an exciting contest, particularly between Suryavanshi and Bumrah, with Pathan eager to see how the young talent performs against such experienced opposition.