Rahul Dravid and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
As the Indian Premier League 2026 approaches, young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again grabbed attention after Sanju Samson revealed an amusing behind-the-scenes story from the teenager’s debut season with Rajasthan Royals. The moment was shared during the BCCI Naman Awards ceremony, where several Indian players gathered to celebrate the country’s recent cricketing achievements.
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Samson recalled a conversation between Sooryavanshi and former India head coach Rahul Dravid on the eve of the youngster’s IPL debut.
Fearless response before IPL debut
According to Samson, RR coach Rahul Dravid had called the teenage batter for a meeting before his first IPL match to discuss how he should approach the game. Dravid wanted to guide the youngster and asked him about his plans for the match. However, Sooryavanshi’s response surprised everyone in the room.“I was actually there in the meeting,” Samson said. “Rahul Sir called him into the room and told me, ‘Sanju, we need to talk to him. He’s a very young kid; we have to explain how to go about it’ he added. “So Rahul Sir asked him, ‘Vaibhav, what’s the plan?’ Vaibhav replied, ‘Kuch nahi Sir, hum to khelenge (Nothing special, Sir. I’ll just play).’ Rahul Sir asked again, ‘What’s your game plan?’”“Vaibhav said, ‘Agar hume pehla ball mila to hum pehla hi uda denge’ (If the first ball is in my zone, I’ll hit it in the air). And that’s exactly what he did. He’s playing a video game of his own,” Samson added.
Youngest player to debut in IPL
Sooryavanshi created history in IPL 2025 when he became the youngest player ever to debut in the tournament after being signed by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore. His debut came against Lucknow Super Giants, and he made an immediate impact. Facing experienced India all-rounder Shardul Thakur on the very first delivery of his IPL career, the youngster smashed a six.
A big dream for IPL 2026
Sooryavanshi, who shared the stage at the awards ceremony with players, also spoke about his ambitions for the upcoming IPL season.“The goal is to win the trophy for the team this season. If we win the trophy, it benefits the entire franchise as well as my own performance,” he said. “My aim is to contribute as much as I can to help the team lift the trophy.” Sooryavanshi Said
