Rajasthan Royals (RR) batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi was unhappy with the team’s strategic decisions during the IPL 2026 season. Assistant coach Trevor Penny revealed that the 15-year-old cricketer was not satisfied with being used regularly as an impact player and wanted a bigger role in the ongoing tournament.
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan Royals by 57 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday, April 13. The Royals’ unbeaten run in the tournament ended. Debutant fast bowler Prafulla Hinge played a key role, taking four wickets and dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi early for a golden duck.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi expressed displeasure over the role of impact player
Rajasthan Royals used Vaibhav Suryavanshi only as an impact player in their last two matches. The 15-year-old batsman remained in the dugout during the fielding innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad, coming in only during the run chase.
Speaking with the broadcaster, Trevor Penny was asked about playing as an impact option for Suryavanshi. He said the young batsman is not happy about missing out on fielding duties and enjoys being involved throughout the game.
“The last game he missed, he was not very happy because he likes his fielding. It’s not because he is a bad fielder,” Penny told the broadcaster during the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers and Royals.
Donovan Ferreira has passed his fitness test – Trevor Penny
Trevor Penny clarified that Vaibhav Suryavanshi was not dropped due to poor fielding. He told that this strategic decision was taken due to the return of South African player Donovan Ferreira. Ferreira recently passed his fitness test after recovering from a collarbone injury.
Ferreira suffered the injury during the SA20 tournament. Penny described him as a top fielder whose return improves the team’s fielding strength, which unfortunately left Suryavanshi out of the main fielding lineup.
Penny said, “Donovan has passed his fitness test. He broke his collarbone in SA20. He is a gun fielder. It is good to have him back on the field. Sadly, Vaibhav missed out.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to shine with the bat
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has impressed with the bat this season. The 15-year-old has scored two quick half-centuries against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), achieving the milestone in just 15 balls. They have also taken on top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood.
He scored 78 runs in 26 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, his form declined against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where debutant fast bowler Prafulla Hinge dismissed him for a golden duck during the chase.
The young batsman had earlier made headlines last season by scoring the fastest century by an Indian in the history of the tournament. He has scored 200 runs in five innings at a strike rate of over 260 and currently tops the Orange Cap list.
The Riyan Parag-led team will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next match on Sunday, April 19 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Also Read: MS Dhoni injury update: CSK star unlikely to play against KKR in IPL 2026
