KOLKATA: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not an ordinary 15-year-old. The Rajasthan Royals youngster has been drawing plenty of attention for his batting promise, with fans and followers eager to see how quickly he can develop. Even with that excitement building around him, Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara wants the prodigy to keep the mindset of a teenager playing the game for the joy of it.
Key takeaways
- Sangakkara stressed that Sooryavanshi should approach batting with the confidence and freedom of a typical 15-year-old.
- The coach highlighted that success and failure both belong in cricket, whether the outcome is a big score or a quick dismissal.
- Sooryavanshi experienced his first real setback of the season in the match versus Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- He was dismissed on the very first ball he faced in that game, after which Sangakkara offered reassurance about embracing setbacks.
- The message to the youngster was to enjoy the process and never feel pressured to give up his natural attacking expression.
Sangakkara’s message: enjoy every ball
Speaking in Kolkata on Saturday, Sangakkara made it clear he does not want the teenager to be boxed into expectations or treated like a finished product. His belief is that Sooryavanshi should go out and bat in the style that feels natural to him, focusing on enjoyment rather than outcomes.
In his explanation, Sangakkara pointed to the full range of possibilities that can happen in T20 cricket. Whether it is a rapid 100 from 35 deliveries, a 50 coming off only 15 balls, or even being dismissed for a duck off the first ball, the youngster must accept it as part of the sport’s rhythm.
First setback of the season vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sooryavanshi’s growing journey has included a difficult moment this season. In the most recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he was dismissed on the first ball he faced, marking his first taste of failure in the campaign.
The young batter showed visible reaction to the dismissal, grimacing as if he was slightly frustrated with himself. But Sangakkara’s response was firm and supportive: scoring runs is always allowed, and failing is also completely acceptable—both are essential parts of cricket.
Ultimately, the head coach’s guidance was aimed at keeping Sooryavanshi’s mindset intact. Sangakkara urged him not to lose the liberty and comfort with which he plays, reinforcing that growth comes when a young batter continues to express himself while learning from every result.
