Rajasthan Royals’ message to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after golden duck revealed

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Kumar Sangakkara offered advice to 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The former Sri Lanka cricketer stated that the youngster should be allowed to experience failure without any unnecessary external pressure.

Sangakkara’s comments came after Sooryavanshi’s golden duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026. The opener has scored 200 runs in five matches at an average of 40.00 and a strike rate of 263.15. He will next be seen in action against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday, April 19.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has captured attention across the country with his fearless approach against top fast bowlers. Despite a recent golden duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kumar Sangakkara said that Sooryavanshi has the ability to read match situations well.

"My message to Vaibhav is simple: enjoy everything. Whether it's 100 off 35 balls, 50 off 15, or a first-ball duck -- you're allowed to score runs, and you're allowed to fail. It's part and parcel of cricket," Sangakkara said.

"Vaibhav is such an exciting young player. People talk about talent, but they should also understand the amount of work he puts in at the nets. He reads the game really well, anticipates situations, and plans against bowlers effectively," he added.

He’ll Figure Things Out as He Goes Along - Kumar Sangakkara on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Kumar Sangakkara defended the failure, stating that low scores are a natural part of T20 cricket, especially for aggressive openers. He stated that such setbacks are expected in a high-risk format and should not be overanalyzed, backing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to grow through experience.

"The nature of opening in T20 cricket today is all-out attack. He'll figure things out as he goes along. For a player like that, sometimes the less said, the better," Sangakkara explained.

"I just want him to remain that 15-year-old kid who goes out and bats with a sense of wonder. That's how he'll truly progress. Low scores will happen to him and to everyone else, but I'm very happy to have Vaibhav with us," he concluded.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Impresses Early but Faces Reality of Aggressive Approach

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi entered the tournament after a strong Under-19 World Cup, where he won the Player of the Tournament award. The teenager scored 52 off 17 balls against Chennai Super Kings. He also hit a six off Jasprit Bumrah on his first ball against Mumbai Indians.

Sooryavanshi attacked Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bengaluru with three boundaries and a six. However, his aggressive style carries risks, as Praful Hinge dismissed him for a golden duck against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain reduced Rajasthan Royals to 9/5 in three overs while defending 217. Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs. They will face Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday after their first loss in five matches.

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