In the wake of the fallout in Dambulla on Monday, which overshadowed Sri Lanka A's nerve-wracking win against India A, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi received a firm message from a former Sri Lanka captain, who waited patiently near the Indian dressing room long after the Rangiri International Stadium had emptied to meet the teen prodigy.
India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during an ODI cricket match between India-A and Sri Lanka A (SLC)
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Sooryavanshi was rewarded with an India A call-up last month after his sensational IPL 2026 season, where he plundered 776 runs and swept away five individual awards. The Pathway Series was meant to serve as a boost and preparation for something much bigger — a potential India debut in the T20Is against Ireland later this month.
However, Sooryavanshi has endured a quiet campaign in Sri Lanka so far, managing scores of 14, 44 and 21 in three matches as India stand on the verge of an exit from the tri-series. In the previous game against Sri Lanka A, he found himself at the centre of the Super Over chaos, where he lost his cool after being sledged following the defeat and shoved a Sri Lankan player.
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After the match on Monday, Anura Tennekoon, Sri Lanka's first ODI captain, waited for nearly an hour before finally getting the opportunity to meet Sooryavanshi. The youngster walked over and touched the veteran's feet before Tennekoon pulled him in for a hug.
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After the match on Monday, Anura Tennekoon, Sri Lanka's first ODI captain, waited for nearly an hour before finally getting the opportunity to meet Sooryavanshi. The youngster walked over and touched the veteran's feet before Tennekoon pulled him in for a hug.
"You focus on your game and cut out the outside noise," Tennekoon told him, as quoted by Sportstar.
Although Sooryavanshi demonstrated throughout IPL 2026 that he possesses the ability to shut out distractions and focus on his cricket, the advice appeared to strike a chord.
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Tennekoon also revealed that he had closely followed the Rajasthan Royals batter during the IPL and was particularly impressed by his six-hitting ability.
"I was really impressed by his batting in the IPL. And hitting those sixes and fours the way he does is something unbelievable. I hope he continues in this way," Tennekoon said.
Sooryavanshi will be back in action on June 17 in India A's final league match against Afghanistan A at the same venue.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Cricket/Former Sri Lanka captain waits one hour after Dambulla bust-up to meet Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, delivers firm message
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