Kamal Ghorui
Rajasthan Royals’ young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026, but head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged patience and perspective around the 15-year-old. After lighting up the tournament with fearless strokeplay against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, Sooryavanshi endured a reality check when he fell for a golden duck to Praful Hinge against Sunrisers Hyderabad. “My message to Vaibhav is simple: enjoy everything. Whether it’s 100 off 35 balls, 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck — you’re allowed to score runs, and you’re allowed to fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket,” Sangakkara said, addressing the expectations around the teenager. The Royals coach emphasised that Sooryavanshi’s rise is not just about talent. “Vaibhav is such an exciting young player. People talk about talent, but they should also understand the amount of work he puts in at the nets. He reads the game really well, anticipates situations, and plans against bowlers effectively.” Sooryavanshi, who starred with a remarkable 175 in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year, has carried that momentum into the IPL. He announced himself with a 17-ball 52 against Chennai Super Kings and has maintained a staggering strike rate of over 263 across five innings. His fearless approach was evident from the start, taking on Bumrah with a first-ball six and then attacking Hazlewood with a flurry of boundaries. On his recent failure, Sangakkara remained unfazed. “The nature of opening in T20 cricket today is all-out attack. He’ll figure things out as he goes along. For a player like that, sometimes the less said, the better. I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That’s how he’ll truly progress. Low scores will happen to him and to everyone else, but I’m very happy to have Vaibhav with us.” Sangakkara also reserved special praise for Dhruv Jurel, who has impressed at No. 3. His unbeaten 81 in a 200-plus chase against RCB underlined his growing importance. “He always had an approach focused on scoring — he’s a high-intent player. He’s not a big guy, but he’s strong and has both power and skill. For Dhruv now, he has a clear idea of his path forward at RR and possibly for India. That clarity has freed him to play with more freedom.” Meanwhile, captain Riyan Parag continues to search for runs, though Sangakkara believes performances are better than the numbers suggest. “I think the good thing is that when I watch Riyan bat, he’s actually batting really well. He’s hitting the ball off the middle and knows where he wants it to go. There are days when you’re batting well but just not getting the runs. So it’s good that it’s happening now.” Rajasthan Royals, who suffered their first defeat in five matches after being rattled by Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain in a steep chase, will now look to bounce back against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.
