India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to earn praise ahead of his senior international debut. After the 15-year-old received his maiden India T20I call-up following an impressive IPL 2026 season, former Rajasthan Royals Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara shared remarkable stories that explain why the franchise believed he was destined for the biggest stage.
“I first saw Vaibhav when I came in for a two-week period to Guwahati. And I went to the side, there was this tiny, horrible little side net in terms of facing up to the likes of Archer and Sandeep Sharma and all the fast bowlers with new balls, and no one really wanted to bat there. And I saw this, Vaibhav walking [and telling him], 'I'll bat.' New balls on, and I could just hear the sound of his bat, like a gunshot every single time,” said Sangakkara on Sky Sports.
"And I think he just put Archer to the sword; he put Sandeep Sharma to the sword. So much so that at one time, I think Archer stopped and laughed. Because he was bowling quickly, and this 14-year-old kid was just treating him with absolute disdain,” he added.
"Every shot sounded like a gunshot," Sangakkara recalled.
He said Sooryavanshi attacked both fast bowlers so confidently that Archer eventually stopped and laughed in disbelief. The performance left a lasting impression on Sangakkara, who immediately walked over to head coach Rahul Dravid and said, "The kid is ready whenever you want him to play."
The Royals had already been tracking Sooryavanshi long before that session. Sangakkara revealed that the franchise first heard about him when team analyst Akshay recommended a 12-year-old batter coached by Manish Ojha. Although the management initially thought the report sounded unbelievable, Dravid needed only a few minutes of watching him bat before making up his mind.
"We have to buy this lad," Dravid reportedly told the team.
Sangakkara also highlighted the youngster's fearless mindset. Before Rajasthan Royals chased a target of 220 during IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi confidently told him, "Coach, don't worry. It's done." He even predicted to teammates Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius that he would hit 13 sixes. While he eventually cleared the ropes 10 times, the innings became one of the highlights of the season.
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik echoed Sangakkara's praise, saying even experienced bowlers struggled to find a plan against the teenager. Karthik praised Sooryavanshi's strong base and natural backlift, adding that coaches should avoid changing his batting technique as he develops.
Despite the growing attention around him, Sangakkara believes the youngster has remained grounded and mature. He is confident that Sooryavanshi has both the talent and temperament to succeed at the highest level.
"I have no doubt he'll be a force for Indian cricket, world cricket and franchise cricket," Sangakkara said.
FAQs
Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the news?
The 15-year-old received his first India T20I call-up after an outstanding IPL 2026 season, with Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Karthik praising his exceptional talent.
What did Kumar Sangakkara say about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Sangakkara said Sooryavanshi would become "a force for Indian cricket, world cricket and franchise cricket." He also revealed the teenager impressed everyone by taking on Jofra Archer in the nets at just 14 years old.
How did Rajasthan Royals discover Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Rajasthan Royals first learned about Sooryavanshi through team analyst Akshay. After watching him bat for only a few minutes, Rahul Dravid instructed the franchise to sign the young batter.
Comments (0)