Sooryavanshi’s calm shocks Shanaka ahead of Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Dasun Shanaka says 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s composure in the dressing room is more striking than his fearless hitting as RR prepare for the IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Shanaka also backed capt

On the eve of Rajasthan Royals’ IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, Dasun Shanaka focused less on the size of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s shots and more on the steadiness behind them.

Sooryavanshi, just 15, has already become one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026. His fearless six-hitting and attacking approach have pulled attention from across the cricket world. But Shanaka said what stands out inside the dressing room is something even harder to measure: composure.

“He is very professional. It’s not about failing or getting runs, but what he does at the practice and how he behaves in the dressing room. How cool he is. I haven’t seen a kid like him behaving like that in the dressing room,” Shanaka said.

The Sri Lankan all-rounder framed it as a rare kind of maturity for a youngster arriving in a high-profile tournament where senior players often test rookies mentally. He said dressing rooms can be intimidating places for young cricketers, yet Sooryavanshi has shown no signs of being overwhelmed.

“Even the seniors will put rookies under a lot of pressure, but this guy is very cool. I really love the way he is coping with things, whether he fails or he gets runs. He is a very natural kid. I see a lot of potential in him. Lot of good things,” Shanaka added.

It’s a rise Rajasthan fans have watched unfold at speed. This season. the left-handed batter from Bihar announced himself with a series of fearless knocks and quickly became a fan favourite for the ease with which he clears the boundary. Just two matches ago. he hammered 93 off 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in one of the standout innings of the season. In the following game against Mumbai Indians, however, he was dismissed for four.

For Shanaka, that swing—big impact and then a quick dismissal—hasn’t altered Sooryavanshi’s temperament.

“When he fails or he gets runs,” Shanaka said, returning to the same theme: how he handles pressure is consistent.

The discussion then shifted to Rajasthan’s captaincy, where Riyan Parag has been a recurring talking point across the tournament. Shanaka backed him strongly, describing a leader who sticks to his decisions as the team carved its way into the playoffs.

“He is a very good captain. He sticks to his decisions. That’s what is important. Many people criticise, but I see him as a great leader in the making,” Shanaka said.

Shanaka also spoke of how leadership is being built rather than simply assigned, adding that he has discussed “a lot of things” with Parag. He said he’s learning from Parag too, while making sure his own messages reach the captain.

“He can be a really good leader for Rajasthan and for Indian cricket as well. I have discussed a lot of things with him (leadership). Actually, as a player, I am also a guy who likes to learn from different people. I am also learning from him. Obviously, I am passing messages to him as well, which is really important,” Shanaka said.

Before the Eliminator, Shanaka provided a fitness update as well. He said Parag and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja were expected to be available despite carrying minor niggles.

“They had some niggles, but they will be fine, hopefully they will be fine,” Shanaka said.

Rajasthan head into the knockout stage with momentum, and Shanaka pointed directly to their recent win over Mumbai Indians as a confidence boost in the dressing room. With the team now “just two wins away from the IPL title,” he said the group is aiming to carry that energy forward.

“It’s good to play a few games and make it to the final. After the Mumbai game, we gained a lot of confidence in the dressing room. So, two more games until the final. Hopefully, we will win that and get there,” he added.

So on Wednesday, Rajasthan will be watching Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach closely—but Shanaka’s words make one thing hard to ignore: in high-pressure matches, what may matter just as much is how the teenager behaves when runs come and go.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Dasun Shanaka Rajasthan Royals Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 Eliminator Riyan Parag Ravindra Jadeja Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians