Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the biggest stories of IPL 2026. At just 15 years old, the Rajasthan Royals opener has impressed fans and experts alike with his fearless batting and remarkable consistency at the top of the order.
Sooryavanshi has scored 583 runs in 14 matches this season and played a major role in helping Rajasthan Royals qualify for the playoffs. His aggressive starts and confidence against experienced bowlers have made him one of the most discussed young players in the tournament.
While praise continues to pour in for the teenager, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes there is an important concern Indian cricket should not overlook. Speaking on a podcast, Manjrekar questioned whether the Impact Player rule is limiting the development of young cricketers.
According to Manjrekar, modern T20 cricket is increasingly encouraging specialist roles. He explained that several players now contribute in only one discipline because of tactical substitutions during matches. This, he feels, reduces overall involvement and learning opportunities for young cricketers.
Using Rohit Sharma as an example, Manjrekar pointed out that a batter can complete his role within a few deliveries and then remain less involved for the rest of the match. He believes the same concern also applies to Sooryavanshi this season.
The Rajasthan Royals youngster has largely been used as a batting option, with the Impact Player rule allowing teams to make tactical changes depending on match situations. Manjrekar feels cricket should continue testing players across different aspects of the game rather than limiting them to a single skill set.
He stressed that fielding, fitness, and match awareness are equally important in shaping complete cricketers. To further explain his point, Manjrekar mentioned former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and said earlier generations stayed actively involved throughout matches.
At the same time, Manjrekar acknowledged that the Impact Player rule has benefited several teams and players in the IPL. However, he maintained that cricket should focus on producing all-round cricketers instead of specialists who contribute in only one department.
For now, Sooryavanshi’s performances remain one of the biggest highlights of IPL 2026. Still, Manjrekar’s remarks have once again reignited debate around whether the Impact Player rule is helping cricket evolve or slowing the overall development of the next generation of players.
