Vaibhav Sooryavanshi IPL Rise Sparks Debate as Manjrekar Highlights Hidden Concern

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been one of the defining stories of IPL 2026, but former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes there is one aspect of the teenage sensation's development that is being overlooked.

The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals opener has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, amassing 583 runs in 14 matches and playing a central role in helping his side qualify for the playoffs. His fearless approach, highlighted by record-breaking knocks and aggressive powerplay batting, has established him as one of the tournament's brightest stars.

However, Manjrekar feels the IPL's Impact Player rule could be limiting the youngster's growth as a complete cricketer.

Speaking on Sportstar's *Inside Edge* podcast, the former India batter questioned whether players such as Sooryavanshi are being given enough opportunities to contribute beyond their primary skill.

"I was just thinking about this when I saw Rohit Sharma in the last game. He scored 22 runs off 15 balls. His entire contribution lasted 15 deliveries, yet he'll still receive the full match fee or whatever comes with it," Manjrekar said.

While clarifying that his criticism was not directed at individual players, Manjrekar argued that the current structure encourages specialists to influence matches in only one discipline.

IPL Impact Player rule under the spotlight with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

The Rajasthan Royals youngster has often been used purely as a batting option this season, with the Impact Player rule allowing teams to substitute players depending on match situations. As a result, Sooryavanshi has spent limited time in the field despite being one of the tournament's most influential performers.

According to Manjrekar, that creates a concern for the long-term development of young cricketers.

"The more I think about it, the more I feel we need to do away with the Impact Player rule for this very reason. Is that really what we want to see about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? To only see one side of his game?" he said.

"A cricketer should be someone who contributes across disciplines."

Why Manjrekar cited Inzamam-ul-Haq

To reinforce his point, Manjrekar pointed to former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, arguing that fans gained a fuller understanding of players because they were constantly involved throughout a match.

"The game should examine every aspect of a player, not just one skill in isolation," he said.

Manjrekar suggested that fielding standards, athleticism and overall match awareness are all important parts of a player's development and should not be hidden by tactical substitutions.

Success despite the concerns

The former batter acknowledged that teams have continued to thrive under the current system, pointing out that India won the last two T20 World Cups despite the Impact Player era coinciding with domestic cricket.

He also recognised that players such as Shivam Dube have benefited from specialist roles. Nevertheless, he maintained that cricket should test players more comprehensively.

"I want the game to test players more thoroughly. If someone is a good bowler, I don't just want to see him bowl four overs. I want to see how he fields as well," Manjrekar explained.

For now, Sooryavanshi's batting exploits continue to dominate headlines as Rajasthan Royals prepare for the IPL 2026 playoffs. But Manjrekar's comments have reopened the debate over whether the Impact Player rule, while tactically effective, could come at the cost of developing the next generation of complete cricketers.