Rajasthan Royals assistant coach Trevor Penney has played down concerns about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fitness and fielding, saying the young batter is being carefully handled during his breakthrough IPL season.

The 15-year-old opener has quickly become one of the most talked-about players in the league since his debut last year. His aggressive batting style has grabbed attention across the cricket world, with many already calling him one of the most exciting T20 batters around.

ALSO READ: Red To Pink Ball In Middle Of Test Match? ICC Considering Radical Rule Change Along With Coach Field Access In ODIs

Sooryavanshi’s game is heavily focused on attacking from the start, often relying on boundaries rather than running between the wickets. He is also closing in on Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season, needing just a few more to go past the mark.

RR on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fitness

Because of this style, RR have often substituted him out as an impact player when they are in the field. While some teams use this tactic for weaker fielders, Penney said that is not the case here.

“His running between the wickets is very good," Penney told reporters. “But he doesn’t really have to run between the wickets too much, does he? He’s just about to break Chris Gayle’s record for sixes."

ALSO READ: LSG vs PBKS: Great News For PBKS As LSG Superstar Batter Ruled Out Of IPL 2026 Final League Stage Clash

Sooryavanshi is not a weak fielder: Trevor Penney

Penney also made it clear that Sooryavanshi is not a weak fielder. He said the franchise has simply reduced his workload on the field to keep him fresh and focused on batting.

“He is a very good fielder. He has got great hands, moves well, dives and anticipates," Penney said. “It has nothing to do with him being a bad fielder. It’s just circumstances and the way it has worked for us."

RR on managing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's mental pressure

The coaching staff have also been careful about managing the teenager’s mental pressure, given the attention he has received at such a young age. Despite all the hype, Penney said the youngster has stayed calm and focused within the team.

“We don’t really have to talk to him too much, he’s just in his little bubble," Penney said. “I’ve been in cricket for 40 years and I haven’t seen that before. He’s pretty freaky in the way he’s dealing with it all."