Currently, Sooryavanshi is part of the Indian squad on tours in Ireland and England, with speculation building around a potential T20I debut.
Having closely observed the dynamic batter during the IPL, Sangakkara expressed that Sooryavanshi has the capacity to emerge as a significant player not only for India but also on the global cricket stage.
“He will encounter numerous opportunities, both in cricket and commercial sectors. The way he balances these, along with the support from his family and the team, is vital,” Sangakkara stated to Sky Sports.
“What I can say for certain is that Vaibhav has a passion for batting. He cherishes the game. The fame and flash don’t influence him much. He remains grounded and inquisitive about various topics.” Sangakkara further noted that this young batting prodigy is not solely focused on cricket, as he also appreciates other interests outside the sport.
“He doesn’t live and breathe cricket all the time. He has room for other pursuits. I am confident he will be a prominent figure in Indian cricket, world cricket, and franchise leagues. Mentally, he is in a strong position, and I believe he will handle the fame exceptionally well,” Sangakkara remarked.
Revisiting last season’s match between the Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, Sangakkara shared an instance that reflects Sooryavanshi’s confidence.
“We faced Lucknow Super Giants, who needed to defend 220 runs to remain in the tournament. After we fielded first, as the chase was about to commence, Vaibhav walked out to open. Before heading to the pitch, he glanced at me, winked, and said, ‘Coach, don’t worry. It’s done,” he recalled.
“He then entered the dressing room and told Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, ‘Listen, I’m going to hit 13 sixes today. After that, you just finish the job.’ Ultimately, he smashed 10 sixes during that game.” “Initially, Donovan and Lhuan-dre thought he was joking. But by the time he reached five sixes, they began to count down as they realized he was serious. That’s the level of confidence Vaibhav exhibits at just 15,” Sangakkara added.
Dinesh Karthik, batting coach and mentor for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, recounted how the team’s standout bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood had difficulty bowling to Sooryavanshi, despite a well-thought-out strategy.
“Before our match against RR, we evaluated potential weaknesses for this young batsman. We believed a perfect yorker or a well-placed bouncer might work. However, in Guwahati, nothing proved successful,” Karthik explained.
“Neither Bhuvneshwar nor Hazlewood could dismiss him, regardless of their attempts. Vaibhav is incredibly challenging to bowl to. This IPL, he was, in my view, the toughest competitor.” “The margin for error with him is minimal. He stands with a solid base and strong legs. Anything on the offside, he simply attacks. During the powerplay, with only two fielders outside, it’s almost impossible to restrict him.” Karthik continued, “Beyond the powerplay, he demonstrates the intelligence to stick to his strengths. He’s not just a one-dimensional player. He can take singles and rotate the strike, and if you bowl in his zone, he’ll exploit it.”
(With PTI inputs)
