Rahul Dravid and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
As Indian Premier League 2026 approaches, young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has once again caught the eye after Sanju Samson revealed an entertaining behind-the-scenes story of the teenager’s debut season with Rajasthan Royals. The moment was shared during the BCCI Naman Awards ceremony where several Indian players came together to celebrate the country’s recent achievements in cricket.Samson recalled a conversation between Sooryavanshi and former India head coach Rahul Dravid on the eve of the youngster’s IPL debut.
Sanju Samson starts his T20 World Cup journey and wins the title
Undaunted response ahead of IPL debut
According to Samson, RR coach Rahul Dravid called the teenage batsman for a meeting before his first IPL match to discuss how he should approach the game. Wanting to guide the youngster, Dravid asked him about his plans for the match. However, Sooryavanshi’s reaction surprised everyone in the room.“I was actually there for a meeting,” Samson said. “Rahul Sir called him into the room and told me, ‘Sanju, we have to talk to him. He is a very young boy, we have to explain to him how to do this,'” he added. “So Rahul Sir asked him, ‘Vaibhave, what’s the plan?’ Vaibhav replied, ‘Kuch nahi sir, brum to khelenge (Nothing special sir. I will just play).’ Rahul Sir asked again, ‘What’s your game plan?'”“Vaibhav said, ‘Agar hume pehla ball mila to hum pehla hi uda denge’ (If the first ball is in my zone, I’ll hit it in the air). And that’s exactly what he did. He’s playing his own video game,” Samson added.
Youngest player to debut in IPL
Sooryavanshi created history in IPL 2025 when he became the youngest player ever to debut in the tournament after being signed by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore. His debut came against Lucknow Super Giants and he made an immediate impact. Facing veteran Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur on the very first delivery of his IPL career, the youngster smashed a six.
Big dream for IPL 2026
Sooryavanshi, who shared the stage at the awards ceremony with the players, also spoke about his ambitions for the upcoming IPL season.“The aim this season is to win a trophy for the team. If we win the trophy, it will benefit the whole franchise and my own performance,” he said. “My aim is to contribute as much as possible to help the team lift the trophy.” Sooryavanshi said
