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Sangakkara Reveals The 2-Year-Old Text That Led Royals To Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Kaushik Kashyap

Kumar Sangakkara on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. [Source - IPL/SkyCricket/x.com]Kumar Sangakkara on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. [Source - IPL/SkyCricket/x.com]

Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a name that is ruling world cricket at the moment. He got the world to take notice after scoring a record-breaking century for Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur during the IPL 2025 but there is a twist behind his discovery, which was recently revealed by the Royals’ Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara.

The Text That Changed Everything

Vaibhav, the 14-year-old wonder kid from Bihar, has taken world cricket by storm. With a fearless mindset and a bat that speaks louder than his age, he is tearing apart bowling attacks with ruthless intent. Rarely has the cricketing world witnessed such raw talent packaged in such audacious brilliance.

However, his move to Rajasthan Royals was a seed sown long before anyone even knew the name Vaibhav Suryavanshi. In a recent interview with Sky Sports Cricket, Sangakkara opened up about the Royals’ early connection with the young prodigy, 2 years before he even played his first game for the franchise.

“Well, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already shown himself to be a very special talent. In 2023, one of the Rajasthan Royals analysts sent through a text, saying there is a very special player we need to watch,” Sangakkara said.

Rather than immediately approaching Suryavanshi, the Royals took a long-term view. The Royals must have monitored his progress silently, observing his growth in various age-group tournaments and India U19.

Vaibhav wowed Sangakkara at the first glimpse

Fast forward to 2025, Sangakkara got his first in-person look at Vaibhav after the Royals secured him in the IPL auction. From the very first glimpse, Sangakkara recognised the youngster’s extraordinary talent and acknowledged that he was witnessing a star in the making.

“The first time I saw him live was after we signed him was in the nets in Guwahati, batting against Jofra Archer and he made it look very very easy. The sound off his bat was like a gunshot at every single time he contacted the ball,” Sangakkara added.

From a 12-year-old prodigy in 2023, Vaibhav Suryavanshi quickly became part of the India U19 setup, featuring in preparatory tournaments under the BCCI. He made headlines with a breathtaking 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, turning heads across the cricketing world. Now, he continues to shine, smashing a 52-ball ton in Youth ODI in England earlier this month.

Returning to his IPL roots, the Royals were clearly ahead of the curve. Spotting his talent long before others, they have definitely secured a gem for years to come. With fearless stroke play and relentless hunger, Vaibhav promises to be a long-term force in pink, a generational talent who could become the cornerstone of Rajasthan Royals’ future ambitions.