Sooryavanshi fever explodes globally as WWE superstar crowns IPL teen sensation the ‘Chosen One’; Riyan Parag reacts

The Vaibhav Sooryavanshi craze has stretched beyond cricket itself, all the way into WWE.

Updated on: May 27, 2026, 11:39:42 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is no longer just IPL 2026’s breakout superstar. He has become a global phenomenon. From cricket experts to former players across the world, discussions around the 15-year-old’s fearless batting have only grown louder with every innings. But now, the Sooryavanshi craze has stretched beyond cricket itself, all the way into WWE.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become IPL's newest superstar

On Tuesday, WWE superstar Drew McIntyre shared a video on Instagram in collaboration with Rajasthan Royals, in which the Scottish wrestler was seen training in the gym, wearing an RR jersey with “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi” printed on the back.

The caption simply read: “Chosen One.”

The two-time WWE champion also tagged the teenage opener in the post.

ALSO READ: Rajat Patidar eclipsed Sooryavanshi with IPL’s wildest blitz ever, but Kohli’s shell-shocked reaction stole the show

While Sooryavanshi is yet to react publicly, Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag quickly joined the fun with a reference to McIntyre’s iconic WWE finishing move, the Future Shock DDT.

“Omgggggg don’t remember how many future shock ddt’s I’ve hit on 2k,” Parag commented.

The Royals franchise, meanwhile, seemed to fully endorse McIntyre’s verdict.

“Certainly,” the franchise replied.

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A post shared by Drew McIntyre (@dmcintyrewwe)

How has Sooryavanshi performed in IPL 2026?

Sooryavanshi has been one of the biggest faces of IPL 2026’s batting revolution.

Bought for INR 1.1 crore at the mega auction, the teenager from Bihar had already generated buzz after smashing a 35-ball century last year in domestic cricket. But this season proved he is far more than just hype.

In 14 matches, Sooryavanshi has scored 583 runs at a staggering strike rate of 232.37, including three fifties and a century.

He is already the youngest player in IPL history to score more than 500 runs in a season.

His tally also includes 53 sixes — just seven short of breaking Chris Gayle’s iconic IPL record of 59 sixes in a season, set in 2012 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

On Wednesday, when Rajasthan face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, Sooryavanshi will have another shot at history.

A place beyond the 600-run mark now seems within touching distance. More importantly for Rajasthan, however, will be the teenager’s role in helping them reach Qualifier 2, where the Gujarat Titans await.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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