Why Rajasthan Royals are Trending: Sanjiv Goenka's Praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The rajasthan royals have seen a spike in search interest across India following viral comments from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka. Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast around September 16, 2026, Goenka hailed RR batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a "generational talent," admitting that he and other IPL franchise owners deeply regret missing out on the youngster during the IPL 2025 auction [1].

The 'Generational Talent': Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become one of the most discussed names in Indian cricket due to his unprecedented trajectory. At just 13 years old, he became the youngest player ever picked in an IPL auction when the Rajasthan Royals secured him for ₹1.10 crore in 2025, beating out interest from the Delhi Capitals [2].

His impact was immediate and historic. During the IPL 2026 season, Sooryavanshi dominated the tournament, scoring 776 runs across 16 matches with a staggering strike rate of 237.30 [1]. His performance earned him a clean sweep of major individual honors, including:

• Orange Cap: Leading run-scorer of the season.
• Most Valuable Player (MVP): Tournament's top overall performer.
• Super Striker & Super Sixes: Awards for the most explosive batting and most boundaries.

Ownership Shift and the 'Mittal Factor'

Beyond the player's stats, the trend is driven by the changing ownership structure of the Rajasthan Royals. Sanjiv Goenka noted that billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal, who acquired a majority stake in the franchise earlier in 2026, is unlikely to let the teen star leave [1]. Goenka remarked, "Since Lakshmi Mittal owns Rajasthan Royals, he will never let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi go anywhere" [2].

International Focus: India vs Afghanistan T20Is

The timing of these remarks coincides with Sooryavanshi's transition to the international stage. Ahead of the India vs Afghanistan T20I series starting Sunday (September 21, 2026), Afghanistan captain Ibrahim Zadran acknowledged the threat posed by the young batter. Zadran stated that his team has "plans in place" for Sooryavanshi, having studied his IPL videos and gathered intelligence from players who faced him in the league [2].