Sangakkara urges Suryavanshi to keep being fearless, bat with sense of wonder
IPL 2026: Kumar Sangakkara has urged Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to commit to his batting style, while staying grounde. He wants the teenage batter to continue enjoying his cricket despite his explosive IPL start.
Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to enjoy his cricket and continue batting with freedom ahead of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 19. He also urged the youngster to stay grounded amid growing hype around his explosive start to the IPL season.
The 15-year-old has taken the tournament by storm with 200 runs in five innings at a staggering strike rate of 263.16. Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise has sparked widespread attention, with talk already emerging about potential national team opportunities despite his age.
"I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That's how he'll truly progress. Low scores will happen to him and to everyone else, but I'm very happy to have Vaibhav with us," Sangakkara was quoted as saying PTI. “My message to Vaibhav is simple: enjoy everything. Whether it’s 100 off 35 balls, 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck—you’re allowed to score runs, and you’re allowed to fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket."
Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 last month, has built his reputation on fearless batting, including an 80-ball 175 in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year. His early IPL form has already put him in discussions for a possible India call-up, with reports suggesting he could be in contention for the Ireland tour in June—an appearance that would make him India’s youngest-ever international debutant if it materialises.
“The nature of opening in T20 cricket today is all-out attack. He’ll figure things out as he goes along. For a player like that, sometimes the less said, the better. I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That’s how he’ll truly progress. Low scores will happen to him and to everyone else, but I’m very happy to have Vaibhav with us.”
Sangakkara also praised RR wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel for his composure at No. 3, highlighting his match-winning unbeaten 81 during a successful chase against RCB, and stressed the importance of managing young talent carefully as expectations around Sooryavanshi continue to rise rapidly.