A player who has already taken the cricket world by storm with his batting, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi keeps finding new ways to excite fans. The teenager has created huge hype with his explosive batting, especially after his T20 performances and a memorable IPL 2026 campaign. His performances on the Zimbabwe tour only made his reputation stronger, as he won the Player of the Series award.
But could Sooryavanshi offer more than just his batting?
That question became more interesting on Day 3 of the Duleep Trophy 2026 quarter-final between East Zone and North East Zone. Sooryavanshi, mainly known as a batter, came on to bowl and did something unexpected: two wickets in a single over.
It was a surprise, but it could become an important part of his career.
Vaibbhav Sooryavanshi: The Batter Steps Up With the Ball
ISHAN KISHAN — PURE CLASS BEHIND THE STUMPS! 🧤🔥
– Quick hands, sharp reflexes, top-quality wicketkeeping! 🫡⚡#DuleepTrophy #IshanKishan #IndianCricket #TestCricket #Cricket 🏏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/6JwMhWuAIc
— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) August 25, 2026
Sooryavanshi had a disappointing outing with the bat in this match. The East Zone vice-captain scored only eight runs from six balls after hitting two boundaries in a row.
However, he got another chance to make a difference when North East Zone came out to bat in their second innings.
Sooryavanshi was brought on as a left-arm orthodox spinner. He bowled only three overs in the match, but he made those three overs count.
In the 28th over, he got his first wicket by dismissing Kishan Lyngdoh. Sooryavanshi bowled a flighted delivery that went towards the batter. Lyngdoh came down the pitch to attack but failed to connect properly. Substitute fielder Denish Das moved backwards and took a fine catch at mid-wicket.
Sooryavanshi struck again in the same over.
With the penultimate ball, Imliwati Lemtur edged the delivery behind. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan reacted quickly and took a low catch.
Two wickets in one over.
Suddenly, people had another reason to talk about Sooryavanshi.
ALSO READ: Brydon Carse Withdrawn From England Squad: What Happened in Derby and Why England Are Worried Again
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Numbers Tell an Interesting Story
Sooryavanshi ended his bowling spell with impressive figures of 2/11 from three overs.
This performance did not come completely out of the blue. He had already bowled in five innings in his previous eight first-class matches. During that time, he took two wickets at an average of 28.50.
Still, this performance felt more special because of the situation.
The cricketing world mainly sees Sooryavanshi as an exciting young batter. His batting has built most of the hype around him. Because of that, his bowling has stayed in the background.
That is why taking two wickets in one over created so much interest.
Could bowling become another skill for him to develop?
Even Rajasthan Royals Noticed
we don’t say it was obvious, but there were signs 👀💗 https://t.co/N1I3s39HHE pic.twitter.com/3nCPGWetNR
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 25, 2026
Rajasthan Royals also noticed Sooryavanshi’s bowling performance.
His IPL franchise posted: “We don’t say it was obvious, but there were signs.”
The post seemed to hint at the possibility of Sooryavanshi becoming an all-rounder. Fans also quickly started talking about the extra value a player can offer when they contribute with both bat and ball.
The post was fun, but the idea behind it is interesting.
If Sooryavanshi can improve his bowling without affecting his batting, he could give teams another useful option in the future.
Why Improving His Bowling Could Be Valuable?
Sooryavanshi does not need to become a full-time all-rounder right now. His batting is still his biggest strength, so he should keep focusing on it. However, bowling can become a useful extra skill for him.
For Rajasthan Royals, having a batter who can bowl a few overs can give the team more options in IPL matches. Such a player can also help the team make better changes based on the match situation.
This skill could also help Sooryavanshi in the future with the Indian team. Indian cricket always values players who can contribute in different areas. An extra bowling option can improve the team’s balance. If Sooryavanshi becomes a reliable left-arm spinner while continuing to score runs, his value could grow further.
Of course, one good spell does not make him an all-rounder. He bowled only three overs. Now, he needs to build consistency and improve his bowling.
A Match Dominated by East Zone
Sooryavanshi’s bowling cameos happened in a match that East Zone completely controlled.
East Zone scored a huge 467, with Shabaz Ahmed making 167 and Sudip Kumar Gharami scoring 146. Abhijit K Sarkar then took five wickets as North East Zone were dismissed for just 111.
East Zone captain Ishan Porel enforced the follow-on after North East Zone struggled with the bat.
North East Zone found no relief in their second innings and were bowled out for 146. East Zone then won the match by an innings and 210 runs.
In such a one-sided match, Sooryavanshi’s two wickets may seem like a small moment. But for his personal development, they could prove very interesting.
You can see the full scoreboard of this match HERE
The Bigger Picture for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The most exciting thing about Sooryavanshi is that his career has only just begun. He has already gained huge attention for his batting, but he still has plenty of time to improve other parts of his game.
His bowling does not need to become his main focus. If he keeps working on his left-arm spin, improves his control and learns to bowl in different situations, it can become a useful extra skill.
For Rajasthan Royals, this could give them a more versatile player. For Indian domestic cricket, it could help another young cricketer develop more than one skill.
In the future, India could also benefit from having a batter who can provide an extra bowling option.
For now, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is still mainly known for his exciting batting. But his bowling has given fans another reason to watch him.
Two wickets in one over and figures of 2/11 will not make him an all-rounder overnight. But if he keeps improving his bowling, his future could become even more exciting.
What do you think? Could Sooryavanshi’s surprise bowling ability become the next important chapter in his fast-growing cricket career? Let us know in the comments.
Keep following SportsChilly for the latest updates.
