Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)
Rajasthan Royals’ young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi remains one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026, but head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged patience and perspective on the 15-year-old. After lighting up the tournament with brave knocks against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, Sooryavanshi suffered a reality check when he fell for a golden duck off Praful Hinge against Sunrisers Hyderabad. “My message to Vaibhav is simple: Enjoy it all. Whether it’s a 100 off 35 balls, a 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck – you’re allowed to score runs, you’re allowed to fail. It’s an integral part of cricket,” said Sangakkara, addressing the expectations surrounding the teenager. The Royals coach stressed that Suryavanshi’s rise is not just about talent. “Vaibhav is an interesting young player. People talk about talent, but they must also understand how much work he puts in at the nets.
He reads the game well, anticipates situations, and plans against the bowlers effectively. Sooryavanshi, who starred with 175 runs in India’s U-19 World Cup win earlier this year, has carried that momentum into the Indian Premier League. He announced himself with a 17-ball 52 against
Chennai Super Kings
He maintained an impressive strikeout average of over .263 through five innings. His fearless approach was evident from the start, as he beat Bumrah for a six and then attacked Hazlewood with a flurry of boundaries.
After his latest failure, Sangakkara remained unfazed. “The nature of starting in T20 cricket today is an all-out attack. He’ll figure things out as he goes. For a player like that, sometimes, the less said, the better. I just want him to stay that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That’s how he’ll really progress. Low scores will happen to him and everyone else, but I’m very happy to have Vaibhav with us.”
“ Sangakkara also gave special praise to Dhruv Jurel, who shone at number three. His unbeaten record of 81 in the 200-over chase against RCB underscored his growing importance. “He’s always had a scoring-focused approach – he’s a high intent player. He’s not a big guy, but he’s strong and has power and skill. As for Dhruv now, he has a clear idea of his way forward at RR and possibly with India. That clarity has freed him up to play with more freedom.” Meanwhile, Captain
Ryan Baraj
He continues to look for runs, although Sangakkara believes the performance is better than the numbers suggest. “I think the good thing is that when I watch Ryan bat, he’s actually batting well. He hits the ball over the middle and knows where he wants it to go. There are days when you bat well but you don’t get going. So it’s good that it’s happening now.” Rajasthan Royals, who suffered their first defeat in five matches after being beaten by Praful Heng and Saquib Hossain in a sharp chase, will now look to bounce back against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.