Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara recalled that prodigy batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi promised to hit 13 sixes while playing Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2026 in a must-win contest. LSG posted a par score of 220 runs on the board at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur and the home team needed a good start.

The same was provided by Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the pair went on to add 75 runs for the opening alliance. Sooryavanshi scored a blistering knock of 93 runs off just 38 balls with the help of seven fours and 10 sixes, eventually three of what he promised his teammates.

However, the youngster scored his runs at a blistering strike rate of 244.74 to put the inaugural champions in front. RR eventually went to register a seven-wicket win and thus kept their playoff hopes alive.

“We were playing against Lucknow Super Giants,” Sangakkara recalled on Sky Sports.

“They needed to defend 220 to stay alive in the tournament. We fielded first, and as the chase was about to begin, Vaibhav was walking out to open. Before heading to the middle, he looked at me, winked, and said, ‘Coach, don’t worry. It’s done’.”

“Then he walked into the dressing room and told Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, ‘Listen you two, I’m going to hit 13 sixes today. After that, you just finish the job’.”

Sangakkara revealed the South African duo of Donovan Ferreira and Lhuan-dre Pretorius thought the youngster was joking with them.

“Donovan and Lhuan-dre thought he was joking at first,” Sangakkara laughed.

“But when he reached five sixes, they started counting down because they realised he was actually going to do it. That’s the kind of confidence Vaibhav has at just 15 years of age.”

Sooryavanshi is part of the five-match T20I series against England.