Sangakkara on Sooryavanshi: ‘I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soo – Kumar Sangakkara Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for International Call-Up

A Rising Star in the IPL Firmament

In the high-pressure cauldron of the Indian Premier League, few players manage to capture the imagination of the cricketing world quite like a prodigious talent finding his feet. During the 2026 season, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did exactly that. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals, the youngster exhibited a brand of fearless cricket that left even seasoned observers stunned. Among those most impressed is Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who believes the teenager is already prepared to make the leap to international cricket.

Sooryavanshi’s statistics from the 2026 season are nothing short of extraordinary. Across 16 innings, he amassed 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. Perhaps most impressively, 684 of those runs came purely from boundaries, underlining his destructive potential at the top of the order.

Sangakkara: Ready for Any Challenge

Speaking after the Rajasthan Royals’ defeat to the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, Sangakkara was effusive in his praise for the youngster. The legendary Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter noted that Sooryavanshi’s ability to handle elite bowling attacks suggests he is well beyond his years in terms of cricketing maturity.

“With everything Vaibhav’s shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him,” Sangakkara remarked. “I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon. He’s batted with a lot of maturity, and he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season.”

Composure Under Fire

The true test of a young player’s temperament often arrives in the form of adversity. During the Qualifier 2 match against the Gujarat Titans, played on a challenging, two-paced track in New Chandigarh, Sooryavanshi faced a brutal barrage of short-pitched deliveries from the Titans’ tall fast bowlers. Rather than wilting, he problem-solved his way to a brilliant 96 off just 47 balls, anchoring the innings even as wickets fell at the other end. For Sangakkara, this ability to stay calm under pressure is the hallmark of a future star.

The Royals’ management has been deliberate in their approach to nurturing the youngster. According to the coach, the team avoids over-coaching, preferring to allow his natural game to flourish. “We don’t clutter his mind too much,” Sangakkara explained. “He comes to all our team meetings, he contributes, he listens, and he does a lot of homework. He practises well and he reads bowlers well; he watches their videos and prepares himself really well. We don’t want to put any unnecessary thoughts into his head. A clear mind and batting with that courage is exactly what we want to see.”

A Resilient Campaign for Rajasthan

The 2026 season was a challenging one for the Rajasthan Royals, marked by injuries to key personnel. The absence of Sam Curran for the entire campaign, combined with fitness issues for captain Riyan Parag and veteran Ravindra Jadeja, forced the team to rely heavily on their depth. Sangakkara expressed immense pride in how the younger recruits, such as Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja, integrated into the squad and performed alongside senior professionals.

“I think everyone should be extremely proud of themselves,” the coach said, reflecting on the team’s journey from a ninth-place finish in the previous season to a playoff run. “From where we were last season to have got here, dragging ourselves here is a great sign. They’re a wonderful bunch of guys, highly skilled, and they played really hard.”

Leadership and Future Prospects

Finally, Sangakkara reserved praise for Riyan Parag’s leadership during his first full season as captain. While the team fell short of the final, the coach emphasized the growth shown by the squad. “I thought Riyan’s first season as captain was excellent. He managed his team well, and his on-field decisions were quite solid. He will grow and learn, as will the other players. No one really gave us a chance to qualify when we started, but this proves that hard work and enjoying the game can lead to special results.” As the dust settles on the 2026 IPL, the future looks bright for both the Rajasthan Royals and their young standout, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.