Kumar Sangakkara could not hide a smile, even in defeat. Rajasthan Royals had just been bundled out of IPL 2026 by Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, yet the coach was already fielding questions about 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and what comes next.
“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 said. “I’m sure that he’ll get that call-up very, very soon. He’s batted with a lot of maturity, he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season.”
Hard to argue. The teenager finished the campaign with 776 runs at a strike-rate of 237.30; 684 of those runs arrived in fours and sixes. On a sticky New Chandigarh surface on Saturday, Titans’ quicks went short at him, repeatedly. He rode the early storm and still found 96 from 47 balls while wickets tumbled around him. Sangakkara praised the youngster’s uncluttered approach.
“Yeah, I think we’ve got a good plan around him. We don’t clutter his mind too much,” the former Sri Lanka captain 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. So we don’t want to put any unnecessary thoughts into his head.”
Squad depth tested
Royals’ season felt a bit like a juggling act. Sam Curran never made it onto the park because of injury; captain Riyan Parag and senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja carried knocks through the run-in. Those gaps opened doors for rookies Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja, both fresh out of state T20 competitions.
“I think everyone should be extremely proud of themselves,” Sangakkara said, name-checking the pair along with Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer and Shubham Dubey. “From where we were last season [ninth] to have got here, dragging ourselves here is a great sign… I can’t be prouder of a team than I am now.”
Parag’s first year in charge also drew warm words. “I thought Riyan’s first season as captain was excellent,” Sangakkara said. The coach reckons the 24-year-old will return even sharper in 2027, especially with a fitter squad around him.
Where it went wrong
Outside the Royals dressing-room, analysis was understandably harsher. Former Australia coach Tom Moody pointed to muddled strategies at the start of innings: “Jumbled thinking around entry points” cost RR, he told the host broadcaster. Aaron Finch, sitting alongside, felt the middle-order never quite settled on a tempo once Sooryavanshi fell.
Those critiques stung but weren’t exactly wide of the mark. Royals often relied on individual brilliance – usually from their teenage star – rather than a repeatable template. When the Titans slammed in those throat-high bouncers and Jadeja was held back because of a sore knee, the game plan frayed.
What next for Sooryavanshi?
A maiden India call-up now feels more when than if. The selectors have white-ball tours pencilled in for late July, and senior opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is due a rest. Sangakkara, who also sits on MCC’s world cricket committee, seems convinced the jump will not faze his prodigy.
“He practises well and he reads bowlers well,” Sangakkara repeated, emphasising preparation rather than raw talent. There is, however, no rush from the coaching staff. “A clear mind, batting with that courage is exactly what we want to see of him,” he said.
Balanced gains
Even in an exit match, Royals left New Chandigarh with positives. Punja’s skiddy left-arm pace looks suited to Indian pitches, and Brijesh appears a keeper-batter comfortable at seven. The core of Parag, Jadeja, Curran and Archer – fitness permitting – offers both runs and overs. Sprinkle Sooryavanshi’s flair on top and you understand why Sangakkara was upbeat.
Still, semi-final heartbreak hurts. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t make the final,” the coach admitted, his voice trailing off. The room fell silent for a second; then he gathered himself and thanked the fans who, he said, “stuck with us from day one”.
In truth, Royals were never fancied for the play-offs back in March. They punched above their weight, unearthed two rookies and watched a schoolboy threaten the tournament batting record. That is not a trophy, but it isn’t nothing either.
One more thought on the kid, though. Speak to anyone in the Royals camp and they end the chat the same way: see you at the next level, Vaibhav.
