"Sooryavanshi will be force for world cricket": Kumar Sangakkara on teenage batting sensation
New Delhi, June 27
With India set to take on hosts Ireland in the second T20I and then England in a five-match T20I series, the spotlight will firmly be on teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is poised to make his international debut after a breakout IPL season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, former Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara recalled the story of how the Rajasthan Royals discovered Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
"In 2023, our analyst Akshay sent us a text about a 12-year-old kid named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He said the boy was incredibly talented and we needed to have a look. His coach, Manish Ojha, had told Vaibhav's father that the kid was ready for the big leagues at just 12. We were surprised at first. Thought it was a joke. But Akshay was very sure, so we brought him in," said Sangakkara.
He further added, "Rahul Dravid was the head coach at RR then. They watched him for five or six minutes and said, 'We have to buy this lad.' I first saw Vaibhav during a camp in Guwahati. In a small side net, Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma were bowling with the new ball. No one wanted to bat there. Vaibhav walked in and said, 'I'll bat.' The sound of his bat was like a gunshot. He took on Archer and Sandeep with ease. At one point, Archer just stopped and laughed because this 14-year-old was treating him with utter disdain."
In the recent tri-nation in Sri Lanka, featuring Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, Sooryavanshi made 211 runs in five innings at an average of 42.20, with a strike rate of almost 201, with the best score of 94, his solitary fifty coming in the final. He also smacked the fastest List A cricket fifty in 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.
Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden national call-up following a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, where he amassed 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties. His explosive season saw him finish as the tournament's leading run-scorer while smashing a record 72 sixes.
The youngster also swept multiple post-season honours, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes awards.
On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's unbelievable confidence in himself, Sangakkara said, "I have a story from this season that stands out. We were playing against Lucknow Super Giants. They needed to defend 220 to stay alive in the tournament. We fielded first, and as the chase was about to begin, Vaibhav was walking out to open. Before heading to the middle, he looked at me, winked, and said, 'Coach, don't worry. It's done.'"
"Then he walked into the dressing room and told Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 'Listen, you two, I'm going to hit 13 sixes today. After that, you just finish the job.' He ended up hitting 10 sixes in that game. Donovan and Lhuan-dre thought he was joking at first. But when he reached five sixes, they started counting down because they realised he was actually going to do it. That's the kind of confidence Vaibhav has at just 15 years of age," he added.
India have lost the first T20I against Ireland by 34 runs. The second T20I of the series will take place in Belfast on Sunday, and the biggest talking point will be the debut of Sooryavanshi, which, if it happens, will make him the youngest Indian to play international cricket at the age of 15.
On how Sooryavanshi is equipped to handle the fame and attention coming his way, the former Sri Lankan batter said, "I feel Vaibhav will handle all the attention very well. At Rajasthan Royals, we pay a lot of attention to how we manage him and protect him. We keep an eye on him to make sure he stays grounded and focused. He will have many opportunities ahead, in cricket and commercially. How he balances that, and the support he gets from his family and the team, will be crucial."
"But one thing I can say for sure is that Vaibhav loves batting. He loves the game. The fame and flash don't really affect him. He is very grounded and curious about many things. He doesn't just live and breathe cricket all the time. He has space for other things. I have no doubt he will be a force for Indian cricket, world cricket, and in franchise cricket. Mentally, he is in a good place. I think he will deal with everything that comes with fame very well," he concluded.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I'm excited about Sooryavanshi, I'm a bit worried about the hype. He's only 15! Look at what happened to other young talents who got too much fame too early. The BCCI and RR need to manage his workload carefully. Also, the article mentions he hit 10 sixes in one game - that's incredible but let's see how he performs against top international bowlers first. Hope he stays grounded 🙏
"Sound of his bat was like a gunshot" - what a description from Sangakkara! The way Vaibhav took on Archer and Sandeep Sharma shows his fearless attitude. But I have to say, making him debut against Ireland in conditions unfamiliar to him might not be ideal. The team management should be patient. Remember what happened to Prithvi Shaw? Let's nurture this talent properly. 🇮🇳🏏
The way he told his teammates he'll hit 13 sixes and then actually got 10... This kid has ice in his veins! But honestly, I'm more impressed by Sangakkara's humility in sharing this story. For a legend like him to talk so glowingly about a 15-year-old shows the respect he commands. Vaibhav is lucky to have such mentors. Hope he gets a good debut in Belfast!
As a cricket fan, I'm excited but also cautious. The article mentions his 776 runs in IPL at 237 strike rate - that's monstrous! But international cricket is a different beast. I remember when Unmukt Chand was hyped after U-19 World Cup, but he couldn't replicate that success at the senior level. Let's give Vaibhav space to develop without unrealistic expectations. The RR system seems to have done well in protecting him so far. Good luck, young man! 🌟
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