New Delhi, March 30: Vaibhav Suryaanshi, a 15-year-old cricket prodigy from Bihar, is ready to make his mark in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Suryaanshi and his childhood coach, Manish Ojha, recently discussed his early days at the academy, IPL trials, and his journey in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026. Ojha highlighted that even at the young age of 11, Suryaanshi displayed an aggressive playing style.
During an episode of ‘Tata IPL Dream On,’ coach Manish Ojha reminisced about Suryaanshi’s initial days at the academy. “In 2018, Vaibhav first came to the academy with his father. It was evident from the start that he had talent and a true passion for cricket. He always preferred to play aggressively while batting, and his timing was exceptional. In every session, he would face 400-500 balls and wouldn’t stop until I gave him a break,” he said.
Ojha recounted, “In 2022, during an open net session, he was given a 40-over slot to bat—20 overs against new-ball bowlers and then against spinners. I noticed he preferred to play big, lofty shots. I advised him that as he progressed to under-16 and under-19 cricket for his state, he would face hundreds of balls and need to play long innings, as four-day cricket would be the norm. I warned him that if he aimed for big shots every ball and ignored singles or doubles, the chances of getting out would increase. His response was, ‘Sir, if I can hit a six on that ball, why should I take a single?'”
Regarding Suryaanshi’s IPL trials, Ojha stated, “During the trials, Vaibhav was given various targets, and he met them every time. For instance, in the first over, he was tasked with scoring 18 runs, which he achieved in just three balls. Afterward, he was told he was playing too many shots square of the wicket and was encouraged to play more on the off-side. He responded by hitting big shots there as well. In another trial, he was given a target of 24 runs in one over, which he accomplished in five balls.”
Discussing Suryaanshi’s performance in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, Ojha noted, “During the World Cup, he often got out after scoring between 50 and 70 runs. He was giving India good starts, but personally, he struggled to finish his innings. I messaged him that everything was going well and he was playing well, but he needed to convert those good starts into big scores. He was preparing himself for big scores but kept getting out. I reminded him that this was his first tournament without a century, and ultimately, he achieved that in the final when his team needed it the most.”
Last season, while playing for Rajasthan Royals, Suryaanshi scored 252 runs in seven matches at an average of 36, including one century and one half-century. On ‘Tata IPL Dream On,’ he shared insights about his childhood heroes and his cricket journey in Bihar. Upon being selected for the Rajasthan Royals, Suryaanshi expressed, “I have seen Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh finish matches single-handedly. When they were at the crease, the opposing team had no chance of coming back. That’s what I admired most about them. I scored heavily in domestic cricket for Bihar, in league matches and trials. Then my coach selected me for the BCCI Under-19 tournament, the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. I played in that tournament and subsequently in the Challengers Trophy.”
He added, “In 2023, I participated in a four-team series that included two Indian teams along with Bangladesh and England. That was where I started my international career. From there, I gradually progressed and played my first match in the Ranji Trophy. Since I began playing domestic cricket, Rajasthan Royals had been keeping tabs on me. They were watching me in domestic matches as well as in India’s under-19 games, and their scouting team had been monitoring me for quite some time.”
Suryaanshi concluded, “When I was selected, my only goal was to give the team a good start. I wanted to play my natural game during the powerplay. If I got a good start, I aimed to build on it and play a long innings without losing my wicket. I knew that if I played my shots, I could change the course of the match, as chasing over 200 runs is not easy for any team. This season, the goal is to win the trophy for the team. If we win the trophy, both my performance and the team’s will naturally be in the spotlight, and that is what matters most.”
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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