Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young cricketer from Samastipur, a small district in Bihar, has created ripples in the cricketing world. His exceptional abilities and success have been widely acknowledged. Suryavanshi started his cricket journey as young as five years old. He began developing his craft at home, even though he was born in an area not usually associated with the creation of cricket originals. Having played for India’s famous Mumbai club side, his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a club-level cricketer himself, recognized his son’s potential early on and soon became his first coach.
When Vaibhav reached the age of eight, Sanjeev took a fateful decision. To get him treated, he had to take his son on a three-hour-long journey to Patna city. This was a brave step. It paved the way for further opportunities for training and competition. In Patna, Vaibhav practiced daily from 7:30 am to 4 pm, facing an impressive 450 balls each day. His hard work combined with his determination to make a difference in the world earned him these widely recognized accolades. By 12, coaches saw his path to a professional cricket career.
“That’s when I realized he was ready for the next level,” said Manish Ojha, one of Vaibhav’s coaches. By the time he turned teen, Vaibhav was a well-known name in the youth cricket circle. At just 13 years old, he scored a breathtaking century off 58 balls during a youth Test against Australia, showcasing his extraordinary talent on an international stage.
His initiation into the Indian Premier League (IPL) has unfolded like a Bollywood blockbuster. Later that same year, he was drafted into Bihar’s squad for the Ranji Trophy. Shortly after, he made history himself, becoming the youngest player to earn a contract at the IPL auction. When Rajasthan Royals registered him in the December 2024 auction for £103,789 (1.1 crore rupies), it created waves throughout the country.
Making his dream debut historic, Vaibhav was the youngest player to smash a century in men’s T20 cricket. He hit a six on his first ball ever. Incredibly, he brought it up in only his third ODI innings! That achievement surpassed the previous mark of 18 years and 118 days set by Maharashtra’s Vijay Zol.
“Vaibhav was hitting sixes and fours off almost every ball.” – Manish Ojha
In fact, his performance made a major impact. Following his remarkable century in the IPL, the state government awarded him almost £9,000 as a token of appreciation for his achievement. His explosive playing style has earned him the nickname “Boss Baby” among peers, drawing comparisons to cricketing legend Chris Gayle, known as “The Universe Boss.”
His coach Singh said he felt “tremendous pride” watching Vaibhav succeed. “We expected him to get an IPL contract, and our joy doubled the moment Rajasthan Royals got him because they have [India legend] Rahul Dravid on their coaching staff,” Singh said. He added that Vaibhav’s determination is evident: “When he became the youngest to debut in first-class cricket, I told him: ‘Anyone can become the youngest. I’ll be happy when you become the youngest centurion.’” So yesterday he called me up after scoring the century and said: ‘Sir, youngest centurion.’
Vaibhav’s story from a small village in Bihar to the IPL limelight is a testament to his prodigious talent. His relentless discipline and work ethic is what made this meteoric rise possible. His talent to perform practices when the lights are brightest differentiates him from most of his peers. As Manish Ojha noted, “Most of the players adopt things easily in practice, but when it comes to playing matches, they fail. The special thing about Vaibhav was that he would do these things impeccably well even in crunch matches.
“A guy from a small village in Bihar has made it to the IPL. The whole world is talking about him. So, he knows how to open doors. Don’t be surprised if he makes it to international level soon.” – Singh
Vaibhav’s style of play is aggressive and fearless, like his idol Brian Lara. “Vaibhav’s role model is Brian Lara, so his game is aggressive, and he plays the ball on merit without any fear at all,” said Ojha.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is just in the early stages of developing his skills and accumulating experience in the rough-and-tumble life of a pro cricketer. As he continues to advance, so too are the expectations for his future. His story will continue to light a path forward for countless young athletes aiming to achieve what he accomplished at the highest level.
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