Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken IPL 2026 by storm. At just 15 years old, the young sensation has amassed 440 runs in 11 innings, showcasing a fearless batting style that has fans and pundits alike buzzing. His explosive performances have made him one of the tournament's brightest prospects, but not everyone is convinced that his current role is helping him grow as a complete cricketer.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has raised a red flag over how the Rajasthan Royals are using Sooryavanshi. The teenager is primarily deployed as an Impact Player, walking in to bat and then rarely taking the field afterward. While this maximizes his batting impact, Manjrekar argues it comes at a cost to his overall development.

"I'm increasingly feeling that the Impact Player rule should be reconsidered for this reason as well. Is this all we want to see from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, just one side of his game? A cricketer is someone who bats well and fields well too," Manjrekar explained on the *Sportstar Insight Edge Podcast*. He pointed out that past generations were judged on all three dimensions of the sport, and hiding a player's fielding weaknesses doesn't serve anyone in the long run.

Manjrekar drew comparisons to legends like Inzamam-ul-Haq, who were celebrated for their batting but also had their fielding scrutinized. "We respected players like Inzamam for their batting, but we also saw their fielding and other aspects of their game. That helped people properly assess a player. Right now, someone can come in, face a few balls, display their hitting ability, and then disappear without showing the other side of their cricket," he added.

The cricket analyst emphasized that young players need to experience the full spectrum of the game, including the pressure of fielding under the lights. "We are not expecting to see all three dimensions of a player. But the more I think of it, it all makes sense. You want to see Sooryavanshi on the field, see what happens, and put him under pressure as well. If he is a great batter but a slight liability in the field, I'd like to see that exploited. That is also something we have experienced as fielders—the tension when you drop a catch, which is very different from just batting and chilling."

For now, Sooryavanshi's batting heroics are the talk of the tournament, but as Manjrekar suggests, true greatness in cricket comes from mastering every aspect of the game. Whether the youngster gets that chance remains to be seen.