Mohammad Kaif has raised concerns over the fielding standards of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite the Rajasthan Royals opener enjoying a sensational IPL 2026 season with the bat. The 15-year-old prodigy from Bihar once again grabbed attention during Rajasthan Royals’ clash against the Delhi Capitals on May 17, but a costly mistake in the field triggered criticism from Kaif, who stressed the importance of improving all-around standards before reaching the international level.

Vaibhav has emerged as one of the biggest breakout stars of IPL 2026, earning praise for his fearless batting approach and extraordinary six-hitting ability. His performances have already earned him a place in the India A squad, highlighting how highly he is rated within Indian cricket circles. However, Kaif believes the youngster must sharpen his fielding skills to succeed consistently at the highest level.

“It’s painful to watch the fielding in this IPL,” Mohammad Kaif wrote on social media after the Rajasthan Royals’ defeat against the Delhi Capitals. “Today Yash Raj dropped KL when he was on zero. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi too misfielded. The young boy hasn’t taken a catch this season,” he added.

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Kaif further pointed out that fielding remains a critical aspect of modern cricket and insisted that young cricketers must learn to take pride in it rather than treating it as a secondary skill. “While playing for India he needs to be sharper on the field. It is the duty of coaches to teach youngsters fielding skills. On their part, the boys should enjoy fielding and take pride in it,” Mohammad Kaif stated.

It’s painful to watch the fielding in this IPL. Today Yash Raj dropped KL when he was on zero. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi too misfielded. The young boy hasn’t taken a catch this season. While playing for India he needs to be sharper on the field. It is the duty of coaches to teach…

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) May 17, 2026

The criticism came after a key moment during the match when Vaibhav, positioned at deep fine leg, failed to stop a boundary off Axar Patel’s shot against Yash Raj Punja. Earlier in the innings, Yash Raj had also dropped KL Rahul on zero, further exposing the Rajasthan Royals’ fielding struggles.

Despite those concerns, Vaibhav’s batting continues to win admiration across the cricketing world. The youngster recently became the Indian batter with the most sixes in a single IPL season, underlining his remarkable impact in the tournament.

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Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh even compared Vaibhav’s power-hitting to some of the game’s greatest strikers. “I have played with many players, but I have never seen a batter like Suryavanshi who dominates every bowler from ball one,” Harbhajan said. “I have dismissed Chris Gayle many times, but Suryavanshi is at a different level altogether. His bat flow is something I have never seen,” he added.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to remain a key figure for Rajasthan Royals as they continue fighting for a playoff spot in IPL 2026.