Kumar Sangakkara recalls first run-in with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: ‘He put Archer, Sandeep to the sword’

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara recalled the first time when he saw Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat in the nets. The former Sri Lankan skipper revealed that the youngster batted against Jofra Archer with aplomb and he was able to put the Englishman to the sword despite playing with the new ball.

Sooryavanshi is known for his explosive batting and has hogged the limelight for his incredible talent. The left-hander, 15, earned his maiden India T20I call-up after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches of IPL 2026 at a blistering strike rate of 237.30 and an average of 48.50 for Rajasthan Royals. He bagged multiple awards in the lucrative tournament, including the Orange Cap.

The youngster continued his rich form, scoring 94 runs off just 29 balls in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A at Dambulla. 

Kumar Sangakkara said on Sky Sports, “I first saw Vaibhav [Sooryavanshi] when I came in for a two-week period to Guwahati. I went to the side, and there was this tiny, horrible little side net, in terms of facing up to the likes of [Jofra] Archer and Sandeep Sharma and all the fast bowlers with new balls, and no one really wanted to bat there. And I saw this, Vaibhav walking and said, ‘Oh, I’ll bat, new balls on,’ and I could just hear the sound of his bat like a gunshot every single time.

“And I think he just put Archer to the sword; he put Sandeep Sharma to the sword. So much so that at one time, I think Archer stopped and laughed. Because he was bowling quickly, and this 14-year-old kid was just treating him with absolute disdain,” Sangakkara said.

After watch Sooryavanshi bat, Sangakkara provided his input to then RR head coach, Rahul Dravid, saying the kid is ready for the big stage.

Sooryavanshi smashed a first-ball six in IPL 2025 against LSG while facing Shardul Thakur.