ipl 2026 The journey ended for Rajasthan Royals (RR) After losing by seven wickets on Thursday Gujarat Titans (GT) In Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh. Despite disappointing result, tournament becomes teen sensation once again Vaibhav SuryavanshiWho played another brilliant innings under pressure and executed a brilliant campaign.
Rajasthan Royals Chief Coach and Director of Cricket after the match Kumar Sangakkara Reflects on the youngster’s incredible rise and talks about what the future may hold for one of the most exciting talents in world cricket.
Kumar Sangakkara supports Vaibhav Suryavanshi for top honor
Suryavanshi once again demonstrated his class against Gujarat Titans and scored 96 runs in just 47 balls in the challenging Qualifier 2 match. The 15-year-old finished IPL 2026 with the Orange Cap and signed off with three scores above 90 in his last four innings, further cementing his status as one of the breakout stars of the season.
Speaking after the match, Sangakkara praised the young batsman and expressed confidence that bigger opportunities may soon come his way. The former Sri Lanka captain also highlighted the maturity shown by Suryavanshi throughout the tournament and praised the way he adapted to different match situations.
“You never know if someone is ready to play or not, and with what Vaibhav has shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he is ready to take on any challenge that comes your way and I am sure he will get that call-up very soon. We are very, very proud of him. “We want to make sure he keeps moving forward, keeps that intent, keeps that no-fear attitude and keeps moving forward.” Sangakkara said.
How is Rajasthan Royals managing the growth of Suryavanshi?
Sangakkara revealed that Rajasthan Royals have made a long-term plan for the teenage sensation and are focused on ensuring that his development remains uninterrupted even after IPL 2026. The Royals coach also confirmed that the franchise will continue to monitor Suryavanshi closely during the off-season.
“I think we have a good plan around him. We don’t clutter his mind too much. He comes to all our team meetings, he contributes, he listens and he does a lot of homework. He practices well and he reads the ball as well. He watches videos and prepares himself really well. Therefore, we do not want to put any unnecessary thoughts in his mind. I think a clear mind, batting with that courage, is what we want to see in him. We will sit down with our medical team and then look at whatever he needs and then support him. We will run our own camps, they will get ample opportunities to practice with us in Nagpur. So, we will keep a very close eye not only on Vaibhav but on all our players,” Sangakkara said.
Suryavanshi shines despite RR being out of Qualifier 2
Although Rajasthan Royals missed out on reaching the final of IPL 2026, Suryavanshi once again stood out with the bat. Chasing a place in the title clash, RR scored 214/6 after Kishore’s brilliant inning of 96 runs, but Gujarat Titans successfully chased down the target Shubman Gill scored a century and Sai Sudarshan A half century.
Suryavanshi ended the season with 776 runs at a strike rate of over 237, establishing himself as one of the most destructive batsmen in IPL history. With Sangakkara publicly endorsing him for international cricket, the youngster’s performances have further cemented his growing demand for an opportunity in India in the near future.