Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said the only way to survive against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is to attack him. Sooryavanshi had hogged the limelight after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches of IPL 2026 at an average of 48.16 and a blistering strike rate of 237.30.

After getting off to a slow start in his International T20I career against England, Sooryavanshi scored 151 runs in three games against Zimbabwe at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 196.10.

Sooryavanshi had taken the attack against some of the best bowlers in the world in the IPL however Singh reckons it is imperative for the bowlers to have an attacking mindset against him.

“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,” Harbhajan told PTI.

“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. The only way to survive is to attack him. You go at him and you take his wicket,” he added.

The former Punjab player said this strategy might not always work for the bowlers, but it part of the game.

“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,” the former India offspinner said.

Singh added he would set the field according to his own strength if he was to bowl against Sooryavanshi.

“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.

Sooryavanshi has been named as East Zone’s vice-captain for the Duleep Trophy.