IPL 2025: To be a successful cricketer—or any athlete—one has to be both lucky and fortunate. Sachin Tendulkar, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, is a near perfect example. Born into a family steeped in culture, with educated parents and the unwavering support of his elder brother Ajit Tendulkar, he had the ideal environment to pursue his talent. Ajit made great sacrifices to ensure his younger brother could focus entirely on cricket.
This combination of familial support, natural talent, and skill allowed Tendulkar to rise without distractions. An important, often overlooked advantage was the absence of social media— something today’s young athletes cannot escape.
Nearly four decades after Tendulkar’s emergence, another prodigious talent has burst onto the Indian cricket scene: 14-year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Unlike Tendulkar, who batted right handed, Vaibhav bats left handed—a fact that offers a slight respite from inevitable comparisons, especially after his explosive IPL century on April 28.
A record-breaking IPL debut
On that day, at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, Vaibhav—aged 14 years and 32 days—smashed a 35-ball century (11 sixes and 7 fours) against Gujarat Titans. Playing only his third match, he set several records: the youngest to score a century in senior T20 cricket, the fastest Indian to do so in the IPL, and the second-fastest overall after Chris Gayle. From Sunil Gavaskar to Tendulkar, everyone praised his remarkable performance. Although he failed in the two subsequent matches, there is no cause for concern just yet.
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The need to protect Vaibhav
Given Vaibhav’s tender age, the need to protect him from distractions has been widely acknowledged. Former India coach Greg Chappell, in an appreciation piece for cricinfo.com, repeatedly emphasised the word “protection”—using it six times in his 1,161-word article.
“With the rise of a star this young, the question is not just how far he can go but whether he will survive the journey at all,” wrote the 76-year-old. Chappell stressed the importance of prioritising mental health over commercial interests. “Contracts should mandate educational continuation, limit media exposure, and schedule periodic sabbaticals. Family or trusted adults must remain central to decision-making,” he advised.
Fortunately, Vaibhav appears to be in safe hands. He is currently under the mentorship of Rahul Dravid, head coach of Rajasthan Royals, and the guidance of his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a resident of Tajpur in Bihar’s Samastipur district. It is believed that Dravid, impressed by Vaibhav during franchise trials, backed his Rs 1.10 crore acquisition at the IPL auction in November.
A supportive circle
“Just as Sachin had his brother Ajit as his guide, Vaibhav’s father is playing the same role,” said Manish Ojha, Vaibhav’s childhood coach and a former Bihar first-class cricketer. “Vaibhav respects and fears his parents. His father has been travelling with him for matches. It’s too early to assume he’ll go off track due to his new found fame. Let’s think positively,” Ojha told Patriot.
Ojha has coached Vaibhav at his GenNex Cricket Academy in Patna since he was a little over eight years old. Father and son would travel 75 to 100 km from Tajpur to Patna by road on alternate days for training. “When his father decided to make him a professional cricketer, he approached me. Vaibhav would train thrice a week from 7.30 AM to 4 PM. On other days, he practised on pitches made outside his home. Even as a kid, he batted beautifully,” recalled Ojha.
Dravid, meanwhile, has focused on helping Vaibhav feel at home in the franchise. “Even after the auction, we held three to four short-duration camps every month before the tournament. Vaibhav attended each one, getting to know the players and support staff,” he said on the official IPL broadcast channel. The camps were held in Talegaon, around 150 km from Nagpur. “We wanted him to feel comfortable by the time the IPL began.”
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Talent on display
Vaibhav got his break in the playing XI after Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson was injured. On debut, he made an immediate impact, hitting a six over extra cover off the first ball he faced— from veteran pacer Shardul Thakur—in Jaipur on April 19.
After that match, which Rajasthan lost narrowly, Ojha analysed Vaibhav’s 20-ball 34. “He tried to play too many shots on the leg side and lost body balance. I told him not to rush. Since he can hit 89–90 metre sixes at will, the six powerplay overs become less significant—he can still hit big shots afterward,” he said.
Vaibhav seemed to heed that advice. He scored his maiden IPL century in the next game. However, his following two matches were less fruitful: he was dismissed for a duck against Mumbai Indians and scored just four against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Still, those who know him are not worried. “Let’s be realistic; he’s going to go through some ups and downs. We must also remember that he’s still finding his way,” said Dravid before the two failures.
More than a white-ball wonder? Before entering the IPL auction, Vaibhav had already shown promise in junior cricket. Notably, he scored a 62-ball century (104 runs, 14 fours, 4 sixes) in his debut Youth ‘Test’ for India under-19 against Australia at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium in September-October.
“It was a watershed moment,” said Ojha. “He’s proved himself in white-ball cricket, but he’s played far fewer red-ball games. He’ll mature more as he plays red-ball cricket and hones his techniqusaue. Only then will we see his true calibre. It’s too early to judge him.”
Gavaskar echoed this view. “I think we must be patient. In any sport, when you’re a newcomer, people don’t know much about you. The second season is the real test. That’s when you’re recognised, and bowlers plan for you,” he told a news channel.
For now, let us admire Vaibhav’s elegant bat swing. Beginning with a high back lift and ending in a graceful follow-through, it forms a rainbow-like arc that sends the ball soaring over the boundary.
The writer is an award-winning journalist based in Delhi and has covered sports for over three decades
