Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has recalled his first meeting with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during a Rajasthan Royals (RR) training session. The Royals' director of cricket said the 15-year-old immediately caught everyone's attention by taking on international fast bowlers in the nets with fearless strokeplay.
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. The left-handed batter finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer and earned his maiden India call-up. However, the southpaw is still waiting for his international debut after missing the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast on Friday.
Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket during the India-Ireland T20I broadcast, Kumar Sangakkara recalled his first impression of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at a training camp. He said the teenager volunteered to bat in the toughest practice net against Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma, and the other fast bowlers.
"I first saw Vaibhav when I came in for a two-week period to Guwahati. There was this tiny, horrible little side net where the likes of Archer and Sandeep Sharma were bowling with the new ball, and no one really wanted to bat there. Then I saw Vaibhav walk in and say, 'I'll bat.' Every time he hit the ball, I could hear the sound of his bat like a gunshot," Sangakkara said.
Kumar Sangakkara recalls the first time he saw Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action ? pic.twitter.com/lMw8N7WLht
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 26, 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Was Treating Jofra Archer With Absolute Disdain - Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara said that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless batting left even experienced international fast bowlers surprised during the practice session. He recalled that Jofra Archer could only laugh after the teenager repeatedly attacked him despite facing the new ball at high pace.
"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," Sangakkara said.
The former Sri Lanka captain revealed that he immediately told then-Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid that Sooryavanshi was ready for top-level cricket. Sangakkara said the teenager had already shown enough ability to earn a place in the playing XI.
"And that's when I saw him, and my feedback to Rahul, walking out, was, 'Yeah, ready to play anytime you want him to play. Kid's just incredible,'" he added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Eyes India Debut After Rewriting IPL Record Books
Despite growing calls for his inclusion, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not make his India debut in the opening T20I against Ireland. India failed to chase 183 and were bowled out for 148 in 18.5 overs at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast.
The teenager earned his maiden India call-up after a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals. He scored 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a remarkable strike rate of 237.30.
Sooryavanshi also rewrote the record books by smashing 72 sixes during the season, breaking Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a single IPL edition. He also won the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker, and Most Sixes awards.
If India retain the same opening combination for the second T20I against Ireland, Sooryavanshi could get his opportunity during the five-match T20I series against England next month. The 15-year-old recently smashed a record 11-ball half-century in a List A match for India A.
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