The movie, starring Ranveer Singh, has been a massive hit and gained popularity across audiences. Sooryavanshi’s simple reply, “Dhurandhar”, caught everyone’s attention, and even his IPL team Rajasthan Royals used a reference from the film in their content.However, social media users were quick to highlight that the film is A-rated, meaning it is meant for viewers above 18 in theatres.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the world of cricketBeyond the movie buzz, Sooryavanshi continues to shine in cricket. At the same event, he spoke about his ambitions for the upcoming IPL season, saying: “The goal is to win the trophy for the team this season. If we win the trophy, it will benefit the entire franchise as well as my own performance. My aim is to contribute as much as I can to help the team lift the trophy.”He has already made headlines with record-breaking performances, including a stunning 175-run knock in the Under-19 World Cup final, helping India win the title. He was also the tournament’s top performer.Balancing cricket and studiesAmid his busy schedule, Sooryavanshi missed a Class 10 CBSE board exam. His school principal explained, “He is absent today. He has not come to the examination centre.We have marked him absent according to the policy of CBSE… If a student is absent, we have to mark him absent… “We were expecting him to come and give the examination, but there are many other obligations. There could be a cricket match or a practice… I think he will definitely take the next exam.”As he prepares for IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi remains one of the most exciting young talents to watch.

The 26-year-old also reflected on the significance of joining an elite list of past winners, calling the recognition deeply special.“Obviously, it feels quite amazing to be recognised among cricketers, among the legends and idols that have won this award before me. It’s truly a great honour every time you step on the field to represent your country… and to do well in that sport and be recognised by the BCCI is an immense honour,” he added.Shubman Gill credits Gambhir and support staffGill credited head coach Gautam Gambhir and the wider support staff, including the Centre of Excellence, for shaping the team’s fearless approach.Reflecting on the past year, Gill termed it an “amazing journey,” pointing to India’s resilience during the England series. “Going into the England series and coming back to draw the series from where we were after the first Test match… it’s been a truly great year,” he said, also referencing strong outings in the West Indies and the Asia Cup.Looking ahead, Gill acknowledged the importance of the upcoming Test calendar, with crucial series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia set to define India’s World Test Championship hopes.“We’ve got some really crucial Test series coming up. Hopefully we are able to win most of our matches and qualify for the finals,” he said.Despite the accolades, Gill downplayed discussions around legacy, focusing instead on team identity. “We want to be looked upon… as a team that doesn’t give up easily. We want to instil that kind of character,” he noted.

Young batting core under the spotlight In a video on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra’, he noted that RR’s batting core heavily features young names such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Dhruv Jurel. “You can call it weaknesses or challenges. The batting lineup is extremely young. Yashasvi Jaiswal is experienced, but he is still young. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is hitting a lot, but he is a young kid. Dhruv Jurel has immense potential, but he is still unproven in the IPL because he hasn’t scored runs there,” he said. Experience gap a growing concern Chopra also pointed out that while Riyan Parag has shown promise, he is yet to establish himself at the international level. He added that Shimron Hetmyer’s role could be compromised, as RR may not be able to utilise him in his preferred batting position. Notably, Parag is set to captain the Royals in the IPL 2026 season. “Riyan Parag has shown a lot of promise and potential, but he is not an established international star. Shimron Hetmyer is there for sure, but the number at which he batted for the West Indies isn’t available. No matter what you do, you won’t be able to play him there. Donovan Ferreira has limited international experience,” he elaborated. Summing up the batting concerns, Chopra stressed that while there is plenty of promise, the lack of international exposure across the top order could prove tricky. “When I look at the top six, a lot of potential is seen, but international experience is very, very limited, except for Shimron Hetmyer, for whom they will not be able to give the number at which he has been successful. So that is a bit of a challenge,” Chopra observed. Hetmyer, notably, was one of the standout performers for West Indies in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 248 runs at a strike rate of 186.46 in seven innings while batting at No. 3 — a role he is unlikely to reprise for RR. Spin attack faces form concerns Chopra also identified spin bowling as another area of concern, citing the recent form of key players. “The spin bowling stocks have gone up for sure, but the current form is a slight issue, and that is a bit of a concern. It might not be a concern, but I am looking at it as a challenge. Ravi Bishnoi’s last year was extremely cold. That’s why he was released. A great addition, but recent form is not great,” he said. He further added that Jadeja, despite his pedigree, has not been at his best in terms of wicket-taking in the T20 format over the past couple of seasons. “Ravindra Jadeja, again a great addition, but his current form in T20 cricket, from a wicket-taking ability perspective, is not great if you look at his bowling for CSK for the last two years. So you have two good spinners for sure, but their current form is not their friend. You can see that as a challenge,” Chopra observed. Bishnoi managed nine wickets in 11 innings during IPL 2025, conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.83. Jadeja, meanwhile, picked up 10 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy rate of 8.56 last season.

Without naming anyone directly, Lalit Modi wrote on X: “Investing 2.34 crore on a Pakistani player when the fans are already on edge? I know a thing or two about managing optics and building empires. Call me.”The controversy even led to Sunrisers Leeds’ social media account being temporarily suspended amid the outrage, underlining the scale of public reaction.Backlash, political undertones and Gavaskar’s remarksThe signing has also reignited political sensitivities tied to India-Pakistan relations. Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since its inaugural 2008 season, following the 2008 Mumbai attacks and subsequent diplomatic fallout.The debate escalated after Sunil Gavaskar criticised the move, calling it an indirect way of funding Pakistan’s military — remarks that drew sharp reactions across the cricketing community.Pakistan-born England cricketer Azeem Rafiq slammed Gavaskar’s comments, posting: “This is absolutely ridiculous & should be condemned… Vile stuff.”Despite the uproar, a telecomasia.net report indicated that Abrar remains unfazed. Ranked third in the ICC T20I bowlers rankings, the mystery spinner is focused on his career and opportunities in global leagues.“The noise on Abrar’s signing is not unexpected, but he is not losing sleep over the uproar,” sources close to the Pakistan Cricket Board said.Franchise stands firm amid ECB scrutinySunrisers Leeds coach Daniel Vettori defended the decision, stating that Abrar was among several top overseas spinner options after they missed out on Adil Rashid.“Very pleased to get him,” Vettori said, backing the selection purely on cricketing merit.With tensions between India and Pakistan still strained following recent geopolitical flashpoints, Abrar’s signing has become more than just a cricketing decision.