Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become a major talking point in the IPL 2026, despite being only 15. His fearless hitting has caught the eye, but it’s his maturity that stands out to teammate Dasun Shanaka.
Shanaka said that he has rarely seen such calmness in a youngster in a dressing room environment. He was speaking ahead of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Sooryavanshi’s Composure Praised
Sooryavanshi’s rise this season has been remarkable. The left-handed batter from Bihar has become a fan favourite with his boundary-clearing abilities. He hammered 93 off 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants recently, but was then dismissed for four in the following game against Mumbai Indians.
Shanaka feels that Sooryavanshi is unaffected by both success and failure. “He is very professional. It’s not about failing or getting runs, but what he does at the practice and how he behaves in the dressing room. How cool he is. I haven’t seen a kid like him behaving like that in the dressing room,” Shanaka said.
Shanaka added that dressing rooms can be intimidating for young cricketers, particularly in high-profile tournaments like the IPL. He noted that senior players often test newcomers mentally. Shanaka said Sooryavanshi has shown no signs of being overwhelmed.
“Even the seniors will put rookies under a lot of pressure, but this guy is very cool. I really love the way he is coping with things, whether he fails or he gets runs. He is a very natural kid. I see a lot of potential in him. Lot of good things,” Shanaka added.
Shanaka Supports Captain Riyan Parag
Shanaka also spoke about Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag, who is in his first full season as skipper. Shanaka strongly backed the young captain. He said he sees leadership qualities developing in him.
“He is a very good captain. He sticks to his decisions. That’s what is important. Many people criticise, but I see him as a great leader in the making,” Shanaka said.
“He can be a really good leader for Rajasthan and for Indian cricket as well. I have discussed a lot of things with him (leadership). Actually, as a player, I am also a guy who likes to learn from different people. I am also learning from him. Obviously, I am passing messages to him as well, which is really important.”
Parag’s captaincy has been one of the talking points of Rajasthan’s season. The Royals have recovered strongly to make the playoff.
Questions were raised over some of his tactical calls early in the tournament.
Shanaka said he sees leadership qualities developing in Parag.