Vaibhav Sooryavanshi receives mentorship from Virat Kohli after IPL 2026 final

Fifteen‑year‑old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the Orange Cap winner and Most Valuable Player of IPL 2026, met former India captain Virat Kohli after Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a second straight title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. Kohli placed a hand on Sooryavanshi’s shoulder and spoke to him like an elder brother, praising his strengths and outlining areas for improvement and future focus. The youngster said the interaction felt like a dream and noted he now treasures a cap signed by Kohli, which he wore when he did not have his own Orange Cap.

Sooryavanshi finished the tournament with 776 runs at a strike‑rate of 237, while Kohli contributed 675 runs to RCB’s victory. The meeting has been highlighted across social media as a notable mentorship moment as Sooryavanshi prepares for an upcoming India T20I call‑up.