Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old opening batter for Rajasthan Royals, has earned a ringing endorsement for an India national team call-up from head coach Kumar Sangakkara after a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign that saw him amass 776 runs in 16 games at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. Rajasthan's season ended on Saturday, 30 May with a Qualifier 2 defeat to Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh, but Sooryavanshi's performances throughout the tournament have firmly placed him in the national selection conversation.

Sangakkara's Verdict on India Call-Up

Speaking after the defeat to Gujarat Titans, Sangakkara left no ambiguity about his assessment of the teenager's readiness. 'Given what Vaibhav has done this season against some of the greatest fast bowlers that the world has, I think he is more than ready to take whatever challenge that we throw at him,' the Sri Lanka legend said. 'I am certain that he will get a national call-up very, very soon. He has played with great maturity and shouldered the responsibility of the opening partnership quite well for us this season.'

The Qualifier 2 Masterclass

Sooryavanshi underlined his temperament on the biggest stage in Qualifier 2, hammering 96 off 47 balls on a difficult two-paced wicket. Facing some of the most intimidating fast bowlers in world cricket — who repeatedly targeted him with short-pitched deliveries — and with wickets tumbling at the other end, the teenager kept Rajasthan competitive throughout the chase. It was a knock that drew comparisons with performances from far more experienced batters.

The Blueprint Behind the Prodigy

Sangakkara revealed that the coaching staff has been deliberate about keeping Sooryavanshi's preparation simple and uncluttered. 'We're not cluttering his mind at all. He comes into our team meetings, contributes and listens, and does a lot of homework. He practices well, watches a lot of videos of opposition bowlers and gets ready for them accordingly,' Sangakkara explained. 'We're not trying to plant anything extra in his mind. I think he just has to keep it clear and bat with that same courage.'

Rajasthan's Remarkable Playoff Run

Rajasthan's progression to the playoffs was itself a significant achievement, having finished ninth in the previous season. The campaign was further complicated by the season-ending injury to Sam Curran and late fitness concerns for Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja. Sangakkara singled out emerging players Yash Raj Punja and Brijesh Sharma for their debut IPL seasons, while also crediting contributions from Dhruv, Donovan, Jofra, and Shubham. 'I don't think there is any question, we've still got some runs to run through these players, but I'm very, very proud of them,' he said.

Riyan Parag's Debut as Captain

Sangakkara was equally fulsome in his praise of Riyan Parag's first season leading the side. 'I think Riyan's first season as captain has been phenomenal. He has handled the team well, handled the on-field decisions well,' he said, adding that both the captain and the squad would return stronger next season. Sangakkara noted that few had expected Rajasthan to even qualify at the start of the tournament, making their playoff berth all the more noteworthy. With Sooryavanshi's national call-up now appearing a matter of when rather than if, all eyes will be on the next India squad announcement.