Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to make headlines following his historic selection to India’s T20I squad. The 15-year-old prodigy, who enjoyed a breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign, recently opened up about a memorable interaction with his childhood idol, Virat Kohli, after the IPL final.
Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the biggest stars of the season and was named the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2026. The left-handed batter’s remarkable performances throughout the tournament earned widespread praise, and his post-final meeting with Kohli quickly became a talking point among fans on social media.
The interaction took place after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured their second consecutive IPL title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. While Sooryavanshi was present to collect his Orange Cap and other individual awards, he also got the opportunity to share a brief but unforgettable moment with the former India captain.
Reflecting on the encounter in a video circulating online, the youngster admitted that meeting Kohli felt surreal.
“To tell you the truth, when Virat bhaiya (brother) put his hand on my shoulder… I used to be an RCB fan before. Actually, I was a very, very big fan of Virat Kohli. So when he put his hand on my shoulder and started talking to me, it actually felt like a dream. The way he spoke, it didn’t even feel like he was actually Virat Kohli,” Vaibhav said to Rajasthan Royals.
The teenager further revealed that Kohli’s words went beyond simple congratulations, with the veteran taking time to guide him about the road ahead.
“He spoke to me like an elder brother, explaining what I was doing well, what more I could do, what I should focus on, where I should direct my attention, and what I should aim for in the future,” he continued.
Having already established himself as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket, Sooryavanshi now faces an even bigger challenge as he prepares to don the Indian jersey.
