Harbhajan Singh: "Only way to survive is to attack him" on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

In New Delhi on August 14, 2026, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh told PTI in a podcast interview that 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s audacious strokeplay is unmatched in international cricket and that "The only way to survive is to attack him." Harbhajan said any bowler aiming to dismiss the teenager must adopt an aggressive approach rather than try to contain him.

Harbhajan described Sooryavanshi as extraordinary, saying: "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is extraordinary. He is a unique player. I have not seen a player like him before, one who can dominate the world at 14-15 years of age." The teenager made his Rajasthan Royals debut at 14 in 2025 and became the youngest batter to score a century in men's T20 cricket with a 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans. He also became the youngest player to make an international debut for India when he played against England at Old Trafford at the age of 15 years and 99 days.

Sooryavanshi scored 175 off 80 balls against England in the Under-19 World Cup final, the highest individual score in the history of the tournament's finals, and was named Player of the Tournament as India lifted the title.

During the IPL earlier this year, Sooryavanshi greeted Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins by dispatching their very first deliveries to him for sixes. On facing elite pace, Harbhajan said: "When the world's top bowlers are bowling to him, they are actually thinking about where to bowl. That itself is a big, big statement."

On how to dismiss Sooryavanshi, Harbhajan reiterated the attacking prescription: "The only way to survive is to attack him. You go at him and you take his wicket," and added: "It may not work all the time. Sometimes you might even get smashed. He would've hit sixes. But that is part of the game. You have to accept that he's good."

Addressing the specific tactic in a powerplay, Harbhajan said: "I won't set the field according to what he's doing. I'll set the field according to what I'm doing. If I bowl to escape, I won't be able to get him out. "You go at him and you take his wicket. You might get success, you might not. That's just a matter of time. You have to accept that he's good. "But still, the next ball should be about how to get him out," Harbhajan said.