Kumar Sangakkara: Teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 'ready' for India call-up

The prodigious batter finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer, amassing 776 runs from 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a blistering strike rate of 237.30.

In Friday's playoff clash, Sooryavanshi struck a fluent 96, but Rajasthan Royals were beaten by Gujarat Titans by seven wickets and exited the competition.

He played a stabilising role after two early wickets, though his innings ended via a mistimed hit to deep third man off Kagiso Rabada. It mirrored a previous dismissal after a 97 off 29 balls in Wednesday's eliminator, when he again fell short of a century.

Earlier in the season in New Chandigarh, he had raced to a fifty in 31 balls - his slowest IPL half-century - finishing that phase on 47 off 31 deliveries. His innings featured eight fours and seven sixes, including a powerful strike off Jason Holder.

"With everything Vaibhav's shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he's more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him," Sangakkara said.

"I'm sure that he'll get that (India) call-up very, very soon. He's batted with a lot of maturity, he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season."

"I think we are very, very proud of the season that he's had," he added.

“And we just want to make sure that he keeps going, keeps that intent, keeps that no-fear attitude and keeps growing. I think he's going to be even better as the years go by.”