Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan) Rajasthan Royals young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to be one of the biggest talking points of IPL 2026, but head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged the 15-year-old to be patient and see-through.After lighting up the tournament with fearless strokeplay against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, Sooryavanshi faced a reality check when he fell to Praful Hinge’s golden duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
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Kagiso Rabada Press Conference: On Shubman Gill, GT win and clean run “My message to Vaibhav is simple: enjoy everything. Whether it’s a 100 off 35 balls, 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck – you’re allowed to score and you can fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket,” Sangakkara said as he lived up to the expectations surrounding the teenager.The Royals coach emphasized that Sooryavanshi’s rise is not just about talent. “Vaibhav is such an exciting young player. People talk about talent but they should also understand the amount of work he puts in at the nets. He reads the game really well, anticipates situations and plans effectively against the bowlers.”Sooryavanshi, who played a remarkable 175 in India’s U-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year, has carried that momentum into the IPL. He declared a 17-ball 52 against Chennai Super Kings and maintained a stunning strike tally of over 263 in five innings. His fearless approach was evident from the start as he faced Bumrah with a first-ball six and then attacked Hazlewood with a flurry of boundaries.On his recent failure, Sangakkara remained undeterred. “The nature of today’s opening in T20 cricket 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 want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That’s how he’ll really progress. A low score will make him and everyone else very happy, but I’ve got Vaiba with us.”Sangakkara also reserved special praise for Dhruv Jurel, who impressed at No. 3. His unbeaten 81 in the 200-plus chase against RCB underlined his growing importance.“He’s always had a goal-scoring approach – he’s a high-intent player. He’s not a big guy, but he’s strong and has power and skill. Dhruv now has a clear idea of his way forward in RR and possibly India. That clarity has freed him to play with more freedom.”Meanwhile, captain Riyan Parag continues to find runs, although Sangakkara believes the performances are better than the numbers suggest.“I think the good thing is when I watch Riyan bat, he actually bats really well. He hits the ball from the middle and he knows where he wants it to go. There are days when you bat well but you don’t get runs. So it’s good that it’s happening right now.”Rajasthan Royals, who suffered their first defeat in five matches after being rattled by Praful Hing and Sakib Husain in a steep chase, will now look to bounce back against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.
