Sooryavanshi endured a rare failure in RR's last match against SRH.
Sooryavanshi has taken the IPL 2026 by storm, amassing 200 runs in five innings at an incredible strike rate of 263.15 with two half-centuries. The left-handed opener, however, endured a rare failure in the last match when he was dismissed for a golden duck by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) debutant Praful Hinge.
“My message to Vaibhav is simple: enjoy everything. Whether it’s 100 off 35 balls, 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck — you’re allowed to score runs, and you’re allowed to fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket,” Sangakkara, who is also serving RR as Director of Cricket, said on the eve of the match against KKR at Eden Gardens.
“Vaibhav is such an exciting young player. People talk about talent, but they should also understand the amount of work he puts in at the nets. He reads the game really well, anticipates situations, and plans against bowlers effectively,” he added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has recorded several crucial innings for RR this season, including 78 off 26 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), 52 off 17 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and 39 off 14 balls against Mumbai Indians (MI).
In the process, the 15-year-old has dominated leading international bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood.
Reflecting on his failure against SRH, Sangakkara emphasized that the nature of opening in T20 cricket is "all-out attack," so sometimes "the less said, the better" for a player like Vaibhav.
“The nature of opening in T20 cricket today is all-out attack. He’ll figure things out as he goes along. For a player like that, sometimes the less said, the better.
“I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That’s how he’ll truly progress. Low scores will happen to him and to everyone else, but I’m very happy to have Vaibhav with us,” he remarked.
(With agency inputs)