Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has urged teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to enjoy his cricket and continue batting freely ahead of the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 19. He also urged the youngster to stay grounded amid the growing hype surrounding his explosive start to the IPL season.
The 15-year-old took the tournament by storm with 200 runs in five innings at a staggering 263.16. The rapid rise of Sooryavanshi has attracted widespread attentionwhile there has already been talk of potential international opportunities despite his age.
“I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and burns 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 that Vaibhav is with us,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying by PTI. “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.”
Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 last month, built his reputation on fearless battingincluding an 80-ball 175 in India’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. His early IPL form has already brought him into discussions for a possible India call-up, with reports suggesting he could be in contention for the tour of Ireland in June – an appearance that would make him India’s youngest international debutant if it materialised.
“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 praised RR wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel for his composure at No.3, highlighted his unbeaten 81 during the successful run chase against RCB and stressed the importance of managing young talent carefully as expectations around Sooryavanshi continue to rise rapidly.
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Published on:
19 Apr 2026 11:57 IST
