Just smash everyone: How RR moulded Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into a world beater

When the Rajasthan Royals brought Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into their ranks, they knew that they had unearthed a gem who would be an asset for many years. Sooryavanshi was a talent who needed guidance and not any drastic changes to the way he plays. And at RR, he was able to do just that.Sooryavanshi announced himself in 2025 with a sensational hundred against GT, shattering records along the way. Then in IPL 2026, he was no longer the kid in the dugout. Rather, he was the centre piece in RR's success.Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs from 16 matches and became the youngest orange cap winner in the history of the IPL and continued his rise in international cricket.Shimron Hetmyer, while talking to Sports Today, revealed how RR was able to mold him into a superstar of the game. The West Indian batter said that everyone in the franchise was making sure that the boy wonder was never flustered at any point and was allowed to play freely. "I think he's a really strong-minded kid and a really tough kid as well. He's done really well this year. I think he's one of those special talents that comes around every decade or something like that. He's really someone I'm looking forward to seeing more of in international cricket.""When we were there at Rajasthan, we were just trying to make sure that he's not someone who gets flustered. Let him just play and enjoy his game as much as he can." "Because he has youth on his side, we're just allowing him to be the young kid who's new on the block and letting everyone enjoy his success as much as he does.""I guess he's been reaping the rewards of playing for India at 14 years old. That's phenomenal for him and for world cricket as well. It's just about remembering to keep doing the good things that got him to this stage and continuing to do them," said Hetmyer.'COME IN AND JUST SMASH'So, what's the work ethic of Sooryavanshi? Hetmyer said that the boy wonder just goes out and smashes everyone and sticks to that mantra all the time."Not really. He just comes in and smashes everybody in the same way he does in the game. It's as simple as that," said Hetmyer.RR are expected to build their side around Sooryavanshi, who has already started captaining Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.- Ends