Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for the next step after a standout IPL campaign. Having seen the 15-year-old batter up close through one of the tournament’s most intense stretches, Sangakkara feels his performances have already earned him an international-level challenge.
At a glance
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs in 16 IPL 2026 innings
- His strike rate was 237.30, including 684 runs in boundaries
- Rajasthan Royals lost Qualifier 2 to Gujarat Titans (GT)
- The match took place on Saturday on a two-paced wicket in New Chandigarh
- Sam Curran missed the entire IPL 2026 season due to injury
- Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja managed their own injuries in the latter stages
In IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs across 16 innings, striking at 237.30. A major chunk of that production came through boundaries, with 684 of his runs registered in that manner.
Speaking after RR went down in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, Sangakkara made it clear he expects Sooryavanshi to receive an international call-up soon. “With everything Vaibhav has shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I believe he’s more than prepared for any challenge ahead,” Sangakkara said. He also highlighted the maturity Sooryavanshi displayed and the way he carried the opening stand with responsibility throughout the season.
Surviving the short-ball barrage
On Saturday in New Chandigarh, Gujarat’s pace attack used a short-ball approach on a wicket described as two-paced. Sooryavanshi had to negotiate that early pressure, but once he found his rhythm, he continued to battle even as wickets fell around him.
Despite the changing match situation, the teenager produced 96 off 47 balls, solving problems as the innings progressed. Sangakkara praised the clarity in his decision-making and the composure he showed when the pressure rose.
“We’ve got a good plan around him,” Sangakkara said. “We don’t overcrowd his mind with too many thoughts. He attends our team meetings, offers input, listens closely, and does a lot of preparation. He practises well and he studies bowlers—watching their footage and getting himself ready—so we don’t want to add anything unnecessary.”
He added that the coaching staff wanted Sooryavanshi to keep the mindset that has served him well: “A calm mind and batting with that courage is exactly what we want to see from him.”
RR’s run to the business end of the tournament came with plenty of complications. Sam Curran missed the entire season because of injury, while captain Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja also had to manage their fitness during the closing stages of IPL 2026.
In that context, Sangakkara was particularly pleased with the way rookie bowlers Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja transitioned into Rajasthan’s setup. He pointed to their shift from state-level T20 cricket into the IPL environment, and how they blended with the senior players rather than being overwhelmed by the jump in intensity.
Rookies, leadership, and a season that overachieved
Sangakkara urged everyone involved to take pride in the collective effort. “Everyone should be extremely proud of themselves,” he said. He singled out Yash for a strong campaign and Brijesh for a very good one, while also noting the contributions of others across the group, from Parag to Dhruv Jurel, who can sometimes go unnoticed. He also referenced Donovan Ferreira in the middle overs, Jofra Archer, Jadeja, and Shubham Dubey in a number of matches for RR.
He continued by stressing the team’s trajectory. “From where we were last season—ninth—to get here, dragging ourselves into contention, is a terrific sign,” Sangakkara said. “There’s still more to come from these players, but I can’t be prouder of this group than I am right now. They’re a wonderful set of guys—highly skilled—and they worked incredibly hard to reach the stage they reached. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get to the final.”
Sangakkara was also encouraged by Parag’s captaincy in his first full IPL season. He backed the skipper to take another step forward next year after what he called an excellent learning curve.
“I thought Riyan’s first season as captain was excellent,” Sangakkara said. “He handled the team really well and managed his on-field decisions strongly. He’ll grow and learn, and so will the other players—and we’ll come back better.”
He added that RR began the campaign without much belief from outside circles. “I don’t think many people gave us a chance to qualify for the playoffs when we started,” Sangakkara said. “But it shows that if you work hard, play good cricket, and enjoy the game, you can create something special.”
