Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's maturity amazes Dasun Shanaka: Haven't seen a kid like that

At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already become one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026. His fearless six-hitting and attacking approach have drawn attention from across the cricket world, but according to Rajasthan Royals teammate Dasun Shanaka, it is the teenager's composure and maturity behind the scenes that stand out even more.

Speaking ahead of Rajasthan Royals' IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, Shanaka said he had rarely come across a youngster who handled pressure and expectations with such calmness in a dressing room environment.

Sooryavanshi's rise this season has been remarkable. The left-handed batter from Bihar announced himself with a series of fearless knocks and quickly became a fan favourite for the ease with which he clears the boundary. Just two matches ago, he hammered 93 off 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in one of the standout innings of the season. In the following game against Mumbai Indians, however, he was dismissed for four.

For Shanaka, though, the most impressive part about Sooryavanshi has been how little success or failure changes him.

"He is very professional. It's not about failing or getting runs, but what he does at the practice and how he behaves in the dressing room. How cool he is. I haven't seen a kid like him behaving like that in the dressing room," Shanaka said.

The experienced Sri Lankan all-rounder explained that dressing rooms can often be intimidating places for young cricketers, especially in a tournament as high-profile as the IPL where senior players constantly test newcomers mentally. Yet, Shanaka said Sooryavanshi has shown no signs of being overwhelmed.

"Even the seniors will put rookies under a lot of pressure, but this guy is very cool. I really love the way he is coping with things, whether he fails or he gets runs. He is a very natural kid. I see a lot of potential in him. Lot of good things," Shanaka added.

Shanaka also spoke about Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, who has led the franchise into the playoffs in his first full season as skipper. Parag has faced criticism at different stages of the tournament for both his batting and leadership decisions, but Shanaka strongly backed the young captain and said he sees leadership qualities developing in him.

"He is a very good captain. He sticks to his decisions. That's what is important. Many people criticise, but I see him as a great leader in the making," Shanaka said.

"He can be a really good leader for Rajasthan and for Indian cricket as well. I have discussed a lot of things with him (leadership). Actually, as a player, I am also a guy who likes to learn from different people. I am also learning from him. Obviously, I am passing messages to him as well, which is really important."

Parag's captaincy has been one of the talking points of Rajasthan's season. While questions were raised over some of his tactical calls early in the tournament, the Royals have recovered strongly to make the playoffs, with Parag growing into the role as the season progressed.

Shanaka also provided a fitness update on Parag and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the Eliminator, saying both players were expected to be available despite carrying minor niggles.

"They had some niggles, but they will be fine, hopefully they will be fine," Shanaka said.

With Rajasthan Royals now just two wins away from the IPL title, Shanaka said the team had taken confidence from their recent win over Mumbai Indians and believed momentum was building at the right time.

"It's good to play a few games and make it to the final. After the Mumbai game, we gained a lot of confidence in the dressing room. So, two more games until the final. Hopefully, we will win that and get there," he added.

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