Kumar Sangakkara recounts first run-in with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: 'He put Archer, Sandeep to the sword'

Rajasthan Royals' head coach Kumar Sangakkara recounted his first meeting with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the franchise's training camp in Guwahati. The former Sri Lankan cricketer revealed that it was when he saw the teen southpaw opener in action, laying out utter carnage against fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Sandeep Sharma.

Vaibhav became the youngest cricketer to be bought in an IPL auction when the Rajasthan Royals acquired him for a whopping INR 1.1 crore after engaging in a fierce bidding war with the Delhi Capitals. The youngster made his debut in 2025 and delivered a breakout performance in the 2026 season, smashing 776 runs in 16 matches to win the Orange Cap Award.

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Sangakkara on Vaibhav: 'The sound of his bat was like gunshot'

Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket during the India-Ireland T20 match coverage, Sangakkara revealed that Vaibhav faced the fast bowlers with new balls in a small side net and put the likes of Archer and Sandeep to the sword. He added that Vaibhav's bat sounded like a gunshot every time.

“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.

Sangakkara went on to add that he met then-head coach Rahul Dravid to provide his feedback on Vaibhav, saying that he could play him anytime, as the 'kid's just incredible.'

Vaibhav missed out on historic India debut

Vaibhav received his maiden India call-up following his IPL 2026 heroics after the BCCI announced him as part of the squad for the Ireland and England tours.

The 15-year-old, however, is yet to make his international debut after he was not named in India's playing 11 for the first T20 match against Ireland on Friday in Belfast.

With the second T20 match between India and Ireland happening on Sunday, it is yet to be seen whether Vaibhav will be part of the visitors' playing XI.