Riyan Parag officially requests media to stay away from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Published - 20 Mar 2026, 12:03 PM | Updated - 20 Mar 2026, 12:04 PM
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has urged the sports media to stay away from young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Parag requested journalists to allow the left-handed batter to enjoy his cricket without unnecessary external pressure.
Sooryavanshi will enter the upcoming tournament carrying immense expectations following a phenomenal Under-19 World Cup campaign. The aggressive batter smashed 175 runs off just 80 balls against the England Under-19 cricket team, helping the India Under-19 team secure the prestigious title in Zimbabwe.
Do Not Reach Out to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Manager - Riyan Parag
Speaking during a pre-season press conference ahead of the new tournament, Riyan Parag opened up about expectations from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The Rajasthan Royals skipper emphasized that allowing the 14-year-old to play freely remains his top priority.
"As a captain my message to him would be to not do a lot of press conferences or follow a lot of media. Let him just enjoy, which I will request you (media) as well," Riyan Parag said.
"Do not reach out to his manager or anyone; just let him be. He's a 15-16 (14) year-old kid, let him play cricket. He's playing really well and he's going to make the country proud," he added.
My Only Message for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is… - Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag said that the Rajasthan Royals management is currently offering Vaibhav Sooryavanshi complete batting freedom. Parag added that senior opener Yashasvi Jaiswal will absorb the pressure, giving Sooryavanshi a clear license to attack from the very first ball.
"Of course he will have some pressure coming his way but I am going to tell him that whatever pressure is going to be there, Jaiswal will handle it as he is good enough to handle that role. My only message for Vaibhav is to go out and play. If the first ball is meant to be hit, hit it. There's no issue in that."
"I don't think any young player has done what he has over the last one year. He is scoring runs everywhere," Parag added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Shines After IPL 2025 Season
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a stunning debut for Rajasthan Royals during the previous season. He scored 252 runs in seven innings at an average of 35 and an impressive strike rate of 206.55. The young batter also smashed 101 runs off just 38 deliveries against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Jaipur.
Since his franchise debut, Sooryavanshi has continued to deliver across competitions. During the Under-19 World Cup, the opener won the Player of the Tournament award after scoring 439 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 169.49, including 30 sixes.
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30. Fans are eagerly waiting to watch Sooryavanshi bat at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati as the Royals chase their second title since winning the inaugural 2008 edition.
Also read: Lockie Ferguson shows disloyalty to Ricky Ponting, pulls out of IPL 2026 matches
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Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
