Dale Steyn shuts down critics questioning Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s age with “puppy face” remark

The ongoing IPL 2026 has found its biggest teenage superstar, as the buzz around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is only getting louder with every match. The 15-year-old is playing with so much confidence that people are forgetting his age.

He is dominating some of the biggest names in the game with unbelievable confidence. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is dominating some of the world-class bowlers with unbelievable confidence.

After his blistering performances for the Rajasthan Royals match after match in the ongoing IPL 2026, cricket legends are now openly admiring the young batter and making big predictions.

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Dale Steyn in awe of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's sensational dominance in IPL 2026

The latest name to join that list is the legendary South African speedster, Dale Steyn. He is clearly stunned by the teenager’s dominance in this season. There have been a lot of allegations about Vaibhav’s age because of his immense physical maturity and incredible performances.

Read Also: Stephen Fleming vs MS Dhoni? CSK coach clears the air on ‘credit’ controversy

However, Steyn slammed those critics by saying that the left-handed batter is still a young kid, but admitted that RR star doesn’t look like a 15-year-old at all when he is batting.

The legendary Proteas fast bowler pointed out that Vaibhav looks strong, confident, and fully ready to take on some of the biggest names of the game.

Dale Steyn says Vaibhav still has a “puppy face”

He further noted that his body language and power hitting give the feeling of a mature cricketer, but the moment the helmet comes off, he is still just a young kid with “Puppy Face."

Dale Steyn said on AB de Villiers’ YouTube show, “I mean, you forget that he’s only 15, you know, because he’s actually not tall, but he’s a strong kid. So, when you put him next to someone like Jaiswal, who’s young himself, he looks like a full-grown. But then when you zoom in beneath that helmet, it’s just this puppy face... this little youngster.”

🚨 Dale Steyn cooked all those who were doubting Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s age.

Steyn said 🗣️ :
"I mean you forget that he’s only 15 you know, Because he’s actually not tall, but he’s a strong kid. So when you put him next to someone like Jaiswal, who’s young himself he looks like a… pic.twitter.com/ZV3jyR8H8y

— AK 45 (@ImRo45_Club) April 11, 2026

It is ridiculous: Aaron Finch on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s brutal hitting

Even former Australia captain Aaron Finch was left awestruck by Vaibhav with the way he is batting and hitting the experienced bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood this season.

Finch was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo: “He got on top of him [Hazlewood] early. His ability to go down to the ground and square off the wicket is just unbelievable. That's talent on a level that I have not seen at that stage—putting reputation to one side and saying, "I am going to hit the ball as far as I can." The ignorance of youth is a beautiful thing. He's putting up video game numbers. It is ridiculous, the ease with which he hits [the ball].”

Read Also: IPL chairman demands Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut, sends message to Ajit Agarkar

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s dominance in IPL 2026

Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s performance in the ongoing IPL 2026 has been outstanding. He has already created history by becoming only the second player, after Jake Fraser-McGurk, to smash two half-centuries in just 15 balls or fewer in a single IPL season.

The Rajasthan Royals opener is currently holding the Orange Cap after his blistering knock against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Guwahati on April 10. Vaibhav smashed 78 runs in just 26 balls at a strike rate of 300 and played a key role in RR’s 6-wicket win over RCB.

Before this knock, the Bihar lad scored 39 runs off 14 balls against the Mumbai Indians, 31 runs off 18 balls against the Gujarat Titans, and 52 runs off 17 balls against the Chennai Super Kings.