Even for someone who has seen nearly every level of cricketing excellence, Kumar Sangakkara was left visibly struck by the confidence of a 15-year-old.
Speaking during commentary on Sky Sports during the third Test between England and New Zealand, the former Sri Lanka captain and Rajasthan Royals head coach spoke about India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and an incident that stood out from IPL 2026.
Sooryavanshi had an extraordinary IPL season for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 776 runs, winning the Orange Cap, and playing a decisive role in taking his team into the playoffs. Among his standout performances was a high-pressure match against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur, where Rajasthan were chasing 221 runs to stay alive in the tournament.
Sangakkara recalled how, moments before walking out to bat, the teenager showed remarkable self-belief. He reportedly told his coach, “Don’t worry. It’s done,” before heading to the crease. He then made an even bolder prediction in the dressing room, telling teammates that he would hit 13 sixes and that they could finish the game after that.
While he did not fully reach that exact mark, Sooryavanshi produced a dominant innings of 93 off 38 balls, including 10 sixes, in a commanding display against the bowling attack.
Sangakkara said teammates initially dismissed the comments as humour, but quickly realised the seriousness of his intent as the innings unfolded. He noted that the teenager’s confidence became evident once he began consistently clearing the boundary.
The former captain also emphasised that Sooryavanshi’s mindset sets him apart, describing his belief and fearlessness as rare traits for such a young player.
Beyond the IPL, the youngster has continued to build on his rapid rise. He became the fastest player in T20 history to reach 1,000 runs by balls faced and also recorded the most powerplay runs in a single tournament.
Sangakkara, who has closely mentored him, said that while fame and commercial attention will inevitably grow around him, Sooryavanshi appears grounded and unaffected by external pressure. He added that the teenager’s love for batting and balanced personality will help him manage expectations.
He also highlighted the importance of support from family and team management in guiding his development, noting that the youngster maintains interests beyond cricket, which helps him stay mentally balanced.
Following his standout IPL season, Sooryavanshi impressed in representative cricket as well, including a rapid 29-ball 94 for India A in Sri Lanka during a tri-series final. He has since joined the senior India squad on a UK tour, where he is yet to make his debut.
If he is selected in the playing XI in the ongoing series, he could become India’s youngest-ever international debutant, surpassing a long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar.
