Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has revealed the extraordinary confidence displayed by teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, recalling how the youngster confidently predicted he would smash 13 sixes in a crucial run chase against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Although he fell short of that ambitious target, Sooryavanshi still hammered 10 maximums in a match-winning knock that left teammates and coaches stunned.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Sangakkara recounted the incident from the IPL 2026 clash at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium on May 19. During the mid-innings break, with Rajasthan Royals set to chase a daunting target of 221, Sooryavanshi assured his coach that the match was already under control. The 15-year-old then told teammates Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius that he planned to hit 13 sixes, asking them to finish the job after his assault. Sangakkara said the pair initially dismissed the claim but soon began counting his sixes as the innings unfolded.
Lucknow Super Giants had earlier posted a formidable 220 for five after Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal elected to bowl first. Facing a challenging chase, Sooryavanshi produced one of the standout innings of the season, smashing 93 runs off just 48 deliveries, including 10 sixes. His aggressive batting laid the foundation for Rajasthan’s successful chase, while Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 53 from 38 balls as the Royals secured a seven-wicket victory with five balls remaining.
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign despite being only 15 years old. Nicknamed the “Boss Baby” for his fearless approach, he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 776 runs, earning the Orange Cap. The young opener also rewrote the record books by hitting 72 sixes during the season, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous IPL record of 59 maximums set in 2012.
Rajasthan Royals’ impressive campaign ultimately ended in Qualifier 2, where they were defeated by Gujarat Titans. Nevertheless, Sooryavanshi’s breakthrough season established him as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket, with his fearless batting and unwavering self-belief drawing widespread admiration from teammates, coaches and fans alike.