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 Under the Spotlight
In the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League, few players manage to capture the imagination of fans and experts alike quite like 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. After a breathtaking performance throughout the 2026 season, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has firmly positioned the youngster as a talent ready for the international stage. Despite the Royals’ exit in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans, the discourse surrounding the team has been dominated by the meteoric rise of their young opener.
An Explosive Season
The statistics behind Sooryavanshi’s season are nothing short of extraordinary. Over 16 innings, the teenager amassed a staggering 776 runs at a blistering strike rate of 237.30. Perhaps most impressively, 684 of those runs came from boundaries alone, highlighting his ability to dominate world-class bowling attacks from the very first ball. Sangakkara, a cricketing legend in his own right, believes the youngster is more than prepared for the rigors of international cricket.
Composure Beyond His Years
During the crucial Qualifier 2 encounter, Sooryavanshi faced a baptism of fire. On a two-paced surface in New Chandigarh, the Gujarat Titans unleashed a barrage of short-pitched deliveries designed to unsettle him. Rather than folding under the pressure, the 15-year-old demonstrated remarkable tactical acumen, problem-solving his way to a brilliant 96 off just 47 balls while wickets tumbled at the other end. Sangakkara lauded this performance as a testament to his clarity of thought and courage.
“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 practices well and he reads bowlers 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 from him.”
Building for the Future
The 2026 campaign was not without its challenges for the Rajasthan Royals. With key players like Sam Curran sidelined by injury and captain Riyan Parag, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, managing physical setbacks, the team had to rely on depth and adaptability. Sangakkara was particularly pleased with the integration of rookie talents such as Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja, who stepped up from state-level T20 competitions to hold their own in the IPL.
“I think everyone should be extremely proud of themselves,” the coach remarked. “From where we were last season—finishing in ninth place—to dragging ourselves to this stage is a great sign. Dhruv Jurel often goes unnoticed, but his contributions alongside Donovan Ferreira and others were vital. It is a wonderful bunch of highly skilled players who played incredibly hard to get us here.”
Leadership and Ambition
Looking ahead, Sangakkara expressed great confidence in Riyan Parag’s development as a leader. In his first full season as captain, Parag displayed a tactical maturity that surprised many critics. According to the Royals coach, the team was largely written off by pundits at the start of the campaign, yet they defied expectations to secure a playoff berth.
“I thought Riyan’s first season as captain was excellent. He managed his team and on-field decisions quite well. He will grow and learn, and so will the other players. We will come back better,” Sangakkara added. As the dust settles on the 2026 IPL season, the focus remains on the bright future of young talents like Sooryavanshi, whose emergence serves as a beacon of hope for the next generation of cricketing stars. With the backing of a mentor like Sangakkara, it seems only a matter of time before the world sees this young prodigy don the national colors.
