Rajasthan Royals\u2019 15-year-old breakout star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the IPL 2026 season\u2019s most closely watched prospects, and head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged fans to let the teenager grow in his own time. After a sequence of eye-catching cameos that included fearless batting versus elite pacers such as Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, Sooryavanshi hit a tougher patch when he was dismissed for a duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad by Praful Hinge.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the pressure that comes with early hype, Sangakkara insisted that the right mindset is the most important thing for a young batter. \u201cMy message to Vaibhav is straightforward: enjoy the ride. Whether it\u2019s a big haul like 100 off 35, a brisk 50 off 15, or getting out on the first ball, it\u2019s okay. You\u2019re entitled to score runs, and you\u2019re also entitled to fail\u2014because that\u2019s cricket,\u201d he said, addressing the expectations surrounding the 15-year-old.<\/p>\n
The Royals coach also pointed out that Sooryavanshi\u2019s rise is more than raw ability. \u201cPeople naturally talk about talent, but they should recognise the amount of work he puts in during the nets,\u201d Sangakkara added. He highlighted that the teenager reads the game well, anticipates what bowlers are likely to do, and prepares his responses accordingly.<\/p>\n
Sooryavanshi arrives in the IPL with momentum from the international youth stage. Earlier this year, he starred in India\u2019s successful Under-19 World Cup campaign by scoring an extraordinary 175. In the league, he has carried that confidence into his limited opportunities, announcing himself with a 17-ball 52 against Chennai Super Kings.<\/p>\n
His early IPL output has been defined by speed and intent. Across five innings, Sooryavanshi has posted a strike rate above 263, underlining how aggressively he attacks from ball one. His fearless brand of T20 batting stood out immediately\u2014he took Bumrah for a first-ball six and then launched a sequence of boundaries against Hazlewood.<\/p>\n
On the recent dismissal, Sangakkara said it should not be treated as a turning point. \u201cIn today\u2019s T20 game, the role of a top-order batter is essentially to attack. He\u2019ll settle into things as he gains more matches. For a player like him, sometimes it\u2019s better not to overthink. I want him to stay exactly the kind of 15-year-old who goes out with a sense of wonder. That\u2019s when real progress happens. Scores like low totals are part of the process\u2014not just for him, but for everyone\u2014and I\u2019m genuinely glad we have Vaibhav with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sangakkara also reserved special praise for Dhruv Jurel, who has impressed in the No. 3 position. Jurel\u2019s unbeaten 81 in a chase of more than 200 against RCB has reinforced his growing value to the batting order.<\/p>\n
\u201cDhruv always looks to score\u2014he\u2019s a high-intent player,\u201d Sangakkara said. \u201cHe\u2019s not a huge frame, but he\u2019s strong, and he has both power and skill. For Dhruv, the future now looks clearer at Rajasthan Royals, and it could open doors for India as well. That clarity allows him to play with more freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captain Riyan Parag, meanwhile, continues to search for runs, but Sangakkara believes the numbers don\u2019t fully reflect what he\u2019s doing at the crease. \u201cThe encouraging part is that when I watch Riyan bat, he\u2019s actually doing a lot of things right. He\u2019s striking the ball from the middle and has a clear plan for where he wants it to go. There are days when a batter plays well but the runs simply don\u2019t come. So it\u2019s a good sign that it\u2019s starting to happen now.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the season continues, Sooryavanshi\u2019s early highs\u2014and one sharp reality check\u2014have only intensified the conversations around Rajasthan\u2019s young core, while Sangakkara\u2019s message remains consistent: keep perspective, back the process, and let growth translate into results over time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rajasthan Royals\u2019 15-year-old breakout star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the IPL 2026 season\u2019s most closely watched prospects, and head coach Kumar Sangakkara has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3642,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Kumar Sangakkara Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in IPL 2026","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Kumar Sangakkara urges IPL 2026 fans to back Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s growth after early cameos, highlighting confidence despite a recent duck.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n