Vaibhav Suryavanshi's coach Manish Ojha revealed how the 14-year-old batting prodigy from Bihar is already 10-year ahead of his contemporaries, given his different mindset. Vaibhav Suryavanshi ignited a fierce bidding contest among several franchises. Eventually, Rajasthan Royals had the last laugh, as they bought the southpaw for an astounding sum of Rs 1.1 crore. Although his immediate inclusion in the playing XI seemed improbable, unforeseen circumstances paved the way for his debut.
RR captain Sanju Samson, who had already been sidelined for the initial four matches of the current IPL 2025 season, was once again ruled out due to a side strain ahead of their encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants. Faced with this setback, the RR team management opted to explore unconventional choices, presenting Vaibhav Suryavanshi with his maiden IPL appearance – a moment destined to be etched in cricketing history.
What transpired next was truly extraordinary. On the very first delivery he faced in the IPL, Vaibhav emphatically struck a six off the bowling of experienced pacer Shardul Thakur, leaving both spectators and cricket analysts in utter disbelief. Despite the Rajasthan Royals navigating a challenging season thus far, their decision to provide this opportunity has undeniably gifted Indian cricket with a dazzling new talent.
Vaibhav's remarkable success was not a sudden stroke of luck but rather the culmination of years of unwavering dedication and a profound aspiration to represent India. His coach, Manish Ojha talked through the sacrifices made by Vaibhav and his family to realize this dream.
“Vaibhav came to me when he was around nine years old. The distance from his native Samastipur to Patna is around 100 km, and he used to come to my coaching center every alternate day. Vaibhav used to start training around 7:30 am and continued till the evening, before travelling back home. He has followed this schedule for over four years," Ojha told Cricketnext.
Ojha also revealed what made Suryavanshi different from others amongst his contemporaries. He said unlike others who usually play 40-50 balls per day in any cricket academy, Vaibhav used to play 4000-500 balls on daily basis under his watch
“Usually, a kid plays 40-50 balls per day in any cricket academy. But Vaibhav, under my watch, played 400-500 balls on a daily basis. Going forward, we induced some technical changes in his batting style. The way he adapted to those changes and executed them on the field, reflected that he is different from others Also, Vaibhav has always delivered more than we expected from him. Be it the local tournaments, the domestic fixtures under Bihar Cricket Association or any game, if we demanded at least a fifty, he scored a 100," Ojha added.
While several cricketers have started their IPL journeys by hitting a six, Vaibhav Suryavanshi stands out by achieving this feat at the youngest age ever recorded in the league's history. His coach, Manish Ojha said that this inherent fearlessness has consistently been a defining characteristic of Vaibhav's personality.
“He has always been an attacking player. His intent is very different from others. He never lets the opponent dictate terms. He never likes to get under pressure, no matter who is he facing. Usually, kids get tensed while facing seniors or competitive opponents. But Vaibhav is different. He never changes his approach," the coach said.
“Once during a match simulation, I asked him why are you not taking singles and doubles. He said, ‘Jis ball ko main chhakka maar sakta hun usmein single kyun lun’ (Why should I go for a single when I can hit that ball for a six?). So, he was very clear about his game from a very young age," he further stated.
Manish Ojha emphasized the pivotal role that Vaibhav Suryavanshi's family played in his ascent, specifically highlighting the unwavering determination of his father, Sajeev Suryavanshi. Sajeev was resolute in his ambition to witness his son achieve the cricketing success that he himself had been unable to attain.
“Vaibhav kept on getting fame in Bihar, but his parents have played a huge role. His mother woke up early at 4 am and prepared food for Vaibhav. His father accompanied him to trainings and matches. We did contribute as coaches, but his parents are the driving forces. Vaibhav and his father had long ago made up their minds that the kid will play cricket. The father wanted to play cricket, but he couldn’t. So, he tried to live his dream through his son," Ojha concluded.