‘He embodies IPL's tagline’ - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets praised for blending his talent with opportunity

The Indian men's team dressing room and Rajasthan Royals (RR) have received some strong advice regarding teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and his handling from the current Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal.

The left-hander has been in tremendous form so far in IPL 2026 for the inaugural champions, scoring 583 runs at an average of 41.64, with a stunning strike rate of 232.27. He is one of the main reasons for RR reaching the playoffs this season.

According to Dhumal, the concerned authorities, including the BCCI and RR, should try and focus on other aspects of Vaibhav’s personality apart from cricket, considering his young age.

“I feel the BCCI and the franchise would need to handhold him in terms of showing him the right way so that his temperament stays intact. Because sport is not only about physical skill, it is also about mental toughness. And definitely, we will do our bit to make sure that the kind of skill set he has allows him to perform for India for many, many years to come," Dhumal told TOI.

The IPL chairman further warned everyone about a potential rough patch for the RR opening batter who is currently enjoying great success as a batter. He further noted that, whenever he loses his form, it will be BCCI’s responsibility to handle the situation with care. On a finishing note, the veteran administrator praised the teenage prodigy’s talent and match-winning ability.

“Like any great player, he will also go through ups and downs. That is the uniqueness of sport. He will fail. He will go down. But this is what sport trains you for. You get up and give a better performance in the next game. That is very integral to preparing you for life. Life will never be a one-way street where you only rise,” said Dhumal.

"I am sure the boy, given his performances throughout this season and as part of the U-19 team, would have seen many failures. But in the next game, he would have tried to perform even better and help his team win. Vaibhav embodies IPL's tagline, which is, 'where talent meets opportunity.' That boy is something else, isn't he?" said Dhumal.

RR are aiming for their second IPL triumph, as they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator of IPL 2026 at Mullanpur on May 27.