'I don’t think you pay anyone else more than him' - Michael Clarke’s huge claim on wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after IPL 2026

Batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been the cynosure in cricket conversations since his exemplary performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). At the age of just 15, the southpaw scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a mind-boggling strike rate of 237.31 this season.

Sooryavanshi played his heart out for the Jaipur-based franchise, but the Riyan Parag-led side was eventually knocked out in Qualifier 2 at the hands of Gujarat Titans, the eventual runners-up. The Samastipur-born batter had amassed 96 runs off just 47 balls in that do-or-die game, but GT's top-order made light work of the run chase to cruise through to the final.

Now, legendary Australia captain Michael Clarke stated that had the IPL mega auction been taking place later this year and Sooryavanshi been part of it, he would have been the most expensive player without an iota of doubt.

"He's definitely the talk of this year's IPL. The poor kid was in tears when RR got knocked out, but he can hold his head high, as he had a stellar year. If the big auction was there this year and he was in it, I don't think you pay anyone else more than him," Clarke said on the Beyond 23 Cricket podcast.

"Every generation has that special player like Viv Richards, Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, or Jacques Kallis, who is so influential to kids around the world. Similarly, this young kid will inspire the next generation of young boys and girls all around the world," the Liverpool-born added.

He's good enough to already be playing in the shortest format for India: Clarke

The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Sooryavanshi is ready to play T20Is. He, however, urged the stakeholders of Indian cricket to allow the youngster to hone his skills in the other formats, as he has age on his side. Clarke praised Sooryavanshi's knock in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans, where he showed great maturity on a tricky surface after Rajasthan had lost two quick wickets up front.

"Allow him time to evolve in the other formats, as he's only 15. He will play the next T20I for India or at least definitely be in the squad. You'll see him in a number of Indian squads just for the experience of traveling with the team, being around senior players, and training in different conditions around the world. He's good enough to already be playing in the shortest format for India," said Clarke.

"He will be good enough to play all three formats and dominate in all of them for India. He's too talented and reads the game so well. In the Second Qualifier, he didn't have the perfect batting conditions. He still managed to get a 90 off 40-odd balls. He showed game awareness and the skill to not just stand and smack every ball for six in the powerplay. It's going to be tough for Rajasthan to keep him because everyone wants him," the former Australia captain concluded.