Tag: Kumar Sangakkara

Teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been the toast of the cricket world in a stunning IPL season for Rajasthan Royals, and the head coach, Kumar Sangakkara, says the 15-year-old is ready to represent India.

Sooryavanshi’s 96 runs on Friday in the last playoff went in vain, as Rajasthan lost to Gujarat Titans by seven wickets to bow out of the T20 tournament.

But the season belonged to the left-handed Sooryavanshi, who leads the batting chart with 776 runs at an average of 48.50, with a punishing strike-rate of 237.30 in 16 matches.

He missed out on a century for the second straight time, but once again impressed with his 47-ball knock, laced with eight fours and seven sixes, in New Chandigarh.

“With everything Vaibhav’s shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he’s more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him,” Sangakkara said.

“I’m sure that he’ll get that (India) call-up very, very soon. He’s batted with a lot of maturity; he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season.”

The teenage sensation held the innings together after Rajasthan lost two quick wickets and reached his fifty in 31 balls, his slowest in the IPL.

Sooryavanshi changed gears, smashing a six off Jason Holder down the ground. He fell to Kagiso Rabada after a mis-hit to deep third man, a dismissal similar to his previous when he struck a 29-ball 97 in the eliminator on Wednesday.

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“I think we are very, very proud of the season that he’s had,” said Sangakkara. “And we just want to make sure that he keeps going, keeps that intent, keeps that no-fear attitude and keeps growing. I think he’s going to be even better as the years go by.”

For the unversed, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi joined Rajasthan when he was 13, scoring a 35-ball century in his debut year in 2025 at age 14.

“I think we’ve got a good plan around him. We don’t cut his mind too much,” said former Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara.

“He comes to all our team meetings, he contributes, he listens. And he does a lot of homework. So we don’t want to put any unnecessary thoughts into his head. I think a clear mind, batting with that courage is exactly what we want to see of him.”

Sooryavanshi won praise from the opposition camp with Gujarat’s director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, saying the boy wonder is already among the T20 elite.

“I’ve not seen anyone bat like the way he bats, and I think in this format, probably he’s right now one of the best batters in the world,” said the former England batter.

“And it’s remarkable to see his biomechanics and his hand speed, and no matter what opposition he plays against… in the years to come, the opposition that he plays against is going to have a tough time against him.”

READ: Virat Kohli, RCB eye second IPL crown in final against Gujarat Titans

Sri Lanka’s legendary batter Kumar Sangakkara has been named to a Transformation Committee to run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). 

The decision follows the government-led ouster of the SLC administration headed by Shammi Silva.

Sangakkara, one of Sri Lanka’s finest cricketers, is the most renowned name in the committee. He is joined by former cricketers Roshan Mahanama and the country’s maiden Test century-maker Sidath Wettimuny, along with several members of corporate, legal, and political backgrounds.

The head of the committee is a former member of parliament, Eran Wickramaratne — a politician from Sri Lanka’s main opposition party (Samagi Jana Balawegaya).

Following the announcement, Wickramaratne highlighted the committee’s objectives, including an overhaul of SLC’s governance framework.

“I am privileged to lead a nine-member committee of individuals with impeccable integrity and expertise,” Wickramaratne said.

“Our immediate priority is a total overhaul of the governance framework at SLC,” he continued. “The cornerstone of this effort will be the implementation of the new consitution, ensuring it serves as a robust, modern foundation for the sport.”

He also expressed confidence in bringing out the best in Sri Lankan players by providing them with top-tier facilities.

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“We will focus on establishing the structures, world-class facilities, and incentive models necessary to empower our national teams. Our goal is to enable our players to consistently deliver world-class performances and elevate Sri Lanka back to the top tier of international rankings.”

Among the members, Wettimuny and Prakash Schaffter bring prior administrative experience, having served on the 2015 interim committee. Avanthi Colombage from the corporate sector, is the only woman on the panel.

For the unversed, SLC is the country’s richest sporting body, but it has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted with India in February–March. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to comment on the latest government-led changes.

The ICC has previously suspended Sri Lanka’s membership in November 2023, citing political interference in the running of the national board. The suspension was lifted at the end of January 2024, and Silva’s committee was restored. He subsequently won a fourth term uncontested as president.

SLC’s new committee members:

Eran Wickramaratne (politics/corporate)

Roshan Mahanama (cricket/corporate)

Kumar Sangakkara (cricket/business)

Sidath Wettimuny (cricket/corporate)

Prakash Schaffter (corporate/cricket)

Avanthi Colombage (corporate)

Thushira Radella (corporate)

Upul Kumarapperuma (law/politics)

Dinal Phillips (law)

READ: Tentative schedule for Pakistan-Australia ODI series revealed: sources

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara opened up on the reports regarding him being the potential contender to become England’s white-ball head coach.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Sangakkara, alongside legendary all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was in contention to become England’s white-ball coach.

The former wicketkeeper batter, however, revealed that he was not approached by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) before terming it an “exciting prospect”.

“Well, I know [my name] has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such,” Sangakkara, a member of Sky Sports’ commentary team for The Hundred, told Britain’s PA news agency.

“I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there. I think Matthew Mott has done a really good job,” he added.

For the unversed, Kumar Sangakkara has worked with England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler at Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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He further backed Buttler to continue leading England in the limited-over formats.

“It is great that Jos Buttler is staying in that leadership role as the side progresses because it is a nice time from what the side is –- and was –- and how it wants to progress in the future,” he said.

“I think the decision making in the England camp has been spot on. I really love the leadership that Rob Key has provided…I think he has been a really smart, practical man, very commonsensical in terms of how he makes decisions and very forward-thinking in how he has set the vision for England cricket,” he added.

For the unversed, the ECB confirmed on Tuesday that Matthew Mott has stepped down as the national men’s white-ball head coach with immediate effect.

The decision follows England’s recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign, where the team was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners India.

Mott, who met with Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, last week, will leave his role after two years in office.

Appointed in May 2022, the 50-year-old Mott enjoyed immediate success, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in the autumn of 2022.

READ: Experienced New Zealand cricketer expresses his desire to play PSL