IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has stressed the importance of carefully guiding teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as expectations around the Rajasthan Royals star continue to rise during IPL 2026. Dhumal believes the BCCI and Rajasthan Royals management must play a major role in helping the 15-year-old stay mentally strong while handling the pressures of elite cricket.
Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the breakout stars of IPL 2026, scoring over 500 runs and consistently dominating experienced bowling attacks with fearless strokeplay. His performances have already sparked calls for a place in India’s senior T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England.
The young batter recently moved a step closer to national selection after being picked for the India A squad for the upcoming 50-over tour of Sri Lanka. He will now aim to continue his remarkable run when Rajasthan Royals face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator in Mullanpur.
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Speaking to The Times of India, Arun Dhumal said the youngster’s growth must be handled with care to ensure long-term success. “I feel 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 isn’t only about physical skill, it’s also about mental toughness,” Dhumal said.
The IPL chairman added that managing success and failure would be equally important in shaping Sooryavanshi’s future.
“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,” he added.
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Dhumal also reminded fans that every great player experiences difficult phases and setbacks during their career. According to him, handling those moments correctly is what separates long-term champions from short-term success stories.
“Like any great player, he will also go through ups and downs. That’s 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,” Arun Dhumal stated.
