Shikhar Dhawan highlights the challenges awaiting Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the next IPL, stressing the need to manage fame, rising expectations, and mounting pressure.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi: The Teenage Sensation Carving His Own Path
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was ecstatic when Shubman Gill reached his record double century in the second Test against England. Watching his “role model” in action from the Edgbaston stands marked not only a personal thrill but also his first-ever appearance at a Test match outside India. For once, he acted his age — a 14-year-old beaming with joy, soaking in the spectacle of a Test in England. Usually, though, Vaibhav carries himself with the poise of someone much older — perhaps because he, too, is a star in the making.
Despite his admiration for Gill, Vaibhav’s batting style mirrors someone entirely different — vice-captain Rishabh Pant. A fearless left-hander, he bats with aggression and disdain for reputations. In the IPL, he announced himself with a jaw-dropping 35-ball century — the fastest by an Indian and the youngest overall in the tournament — dismantling seasoned bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, and Prasidh Krishna with ease.
He treated Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Noor Ahmed, and even Ravindra Jadeja with the same ferocity. In just 7 matches of his debut IPL season, Vaibhav smashed 252 runs at a blistering strike rate of 206.56, including 24 sixes — an average of 3.5 sixes per innings — all just after turning 14.
While the IPL brought him global fame, Vaibhav had already turned heads in the cricketing world with a stunning 58-ball century for India U19 against Australia in a Youth Test. That knock fast-tracked his IPL contract with the Rajasthan Royals.
With lightning-fast hands, razor-sharp hand-eye coordination, a rock-solid base, and an aggressive mindset, Vaibhav is quickly shedding any doubts about his readiness for international stages. On his first overseas tour with the India U19 squad in England, he hammered 17 sixes in just three Youth ODIs. With two games still to go, the prodigious teen from Bihar isn’t just hunting sixes and strike rates anymore — he’s chasing the next big score.
Shikhar Dhawan warns Vaibhav Suryavanshi about fame and money
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was ecstatic when Shubman Gill reached his record double century in the second Test against England. Watching his “role model” in action from the Edgbaston stands marked not only his first Test match outside India but also a rare moment where the 14-year-old looked like just another cricket-loving teenager. Most days, though, Vaibhav doesn’t act his age — and that’s because he already plays far beyond it.
Despite idolizing Gill, his batting is more reminiscent of Rishabh Pant — bold, left-handed, and brutal. He exploded onto the scene with a 35-ball IPL century, the fastest by an Indian and the youngest in tournament history. International stars like Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Marco Jansen, and even Ravindra Jadeja were dispatched like net bowlers. By the end of his debut IPL season, he had scored 252 runs in 7 games at a strike rate of 206.56, peppering the stands with 24 sixes — an average of 3.5 sixes per match — just after turning 14.
But Vaibhav’s rise didn’t begin in the IPL. He first grabbed attention by smashing a 58-ball century for India U19 against Australia in a Youth Test. That innings earned him a Rajasthan Royals contract and confirmed his status as a prodigy. His fearless approach, quick hands, and incredible hand-eye coordination have already set him apart — especially on overseas tours. On his maiden U19 trip to England, he hit 17 sixes in three Youth ODIs, though a big score eluded him.
He came close in the third match, falling for 86 after two dismissals in the 40s. The big innings will come, but as former India opener Shikhar Dhawan notes, it’s the road ahead that truly matters.
“How old is he, 13-14? Playing IPL at that age is a massive achievement,” Dhawan told Hindustan Times. “The way he stood up to world-class bowlers at that age was remarkable. His confidence while hitting big shots — it’s amazing. Thanks to the IPL, kids can now dream big from the age of five, and Vaibhav has turned that dream into reality.”
But Dhawan, who knows the highs and pitfalls of early fame, offered a word of caution: “It’s a proud moment for all of us in cricket, but he must be careful. Fame, attention, and money come fast. Staying grounded is the real challenge.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi is only getting started. The sixes are flowing, the spotlight is bright — and so are the expectations.