‘The second year is always going to be a challenge’ – Laxmipathy Balaji’s verdict on Vaibhav Suryavanshi before IPL 2026

Former India pace bowler Laxmipathy Balaji has claimed that Rajasthan Royals (RR) prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi will face tough challenges in his second Indian Premier League (IPL) season. 

Suryavanshi had a breakout season in the IPL last time around. The 14-year-old batter was picked up in the auction for INR 1.10 crore and went on to play seven games, scoring 252 at a strike rate of 206.55. This included his maiden century against Gujarat Titans, scoring 101 off just 38. His stocks have been rising ever since the record-breaking debut season, as he also contributed in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph. 

Balaji believes that the young left-hander is in for a very challenging season coming into the 2026 IPL. He will be expected to play in a majority of the games this time around, with bowlers more prepared than ever to exploit any of the weaknesses that he possesses. The former player-turned-expert, however, knows RR coach Kumar Sangakkara will play a huge role in helping Suryavanshi settle down.

“We have seen the kind of talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi has, last season. He scored that hundred against GT, against a very good bowling attack. Of course, the second year is always going to be a kind of challenge for any player. That is where the mentorship of Kumar Sangakkara will come into play. The opposition would definitely have worked on some of his shortcomings,” Balaji said on JioStar.

This season will be a huge opportunity and challenge for Vaibhav Suryavanshi as a youngster to get that kind of consistency. We saw that with the 175 he scored in the Under-19 final. So, of course, there is a lot of potential on the field. How he translates it in the second season is going to be crucial,” the former CSK bowler added.

Notably, Suryavanshi also played six games for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he went on to score 197 runs at a strike rate of 168.37. This included hitting an unbeaten 108 against Maharashtra in Pune.

The youngster is expected to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 2026 season, forming one of the most exciting opening pairs in the tournament.