A few hours before his unforgettable innings that took IPL 2025 by storm, Vaibhav Suryavanshi spoke with his coach.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Dream Knock: A Fearless Display of Talent and Mentorship
“It’s like a dream, and there is no fear,” said 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi after his stunning performance that left Gujarat Titans stunned in the IPL 2025 match. Opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals, the left-handed prodigy smashed 101 runs off 38 balls, including 8 fours and 11 sixes, leading Rajasthan to chase down 210 with 25 balls to spare. His onslaught was so overpowering that even seasoned batter Yashasvi Jaiswal played second fiddle at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday night.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s ruthless hitting left Indian seamers Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma in disbelief. Ishant, with nearly two decades of experience, was left dumbfounded after conceding 28 runs in the fourth over. Even renowned bowlers like Karim Janat, Washington Sundar, and Rashid Khan couldn’t escape his fury.
Purchased by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.10 crore at the IPL mega auction, Vaibhav made his debut after Sanju Samson’s injury. In his debut match against Lucknow Super Giants, Vaibhav showed his fearless nature, dispatching Shardul Thakur for a six on the first ball he faced. However, no one could have anticipated the sheer power he would unleash against Gujarat Titans.
Vaibhav’s Suryavanshi coach, Manish Ojha, was equally in awe of his performance. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Ojha praised Vaibhav’s once-in-a-lifetime innings. “Vaibhav has the potential, and he has shown it to the world,” he said after Vaibhav was named Player of the Match.
Ahead of the match, Vaibhav called Ojha for advice. The coach noted that while Vaibhav had been playing aggressively, he needed to focus on living in the moment. Ojha emphasized the importance of taking it “one ball at a time” and not premeditating his shots. “If you have pre-conceived notions, you will have different footwork and body language,” Ojha explained.
He also advised Vaibhav to focus on his footwork and keep his batting unpredictable. “Do such batting that no one can predict what shot you’ll play next,” Ojha said. He believed that if Vaibhav stayed at the crease for 30-40 balls, the match would slip away from the opponent’s grasp. With that mindset, Vaibhav’s incredible knock became a reality.
Yashasvi and Vaibhav Suryavanshi form a formidable opening partnership
After his remarkable performance against Gujarat Titans, Vaibhav Suryavanshi spoke about the valuable guidance he has been receiving from his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal. “Batting with Jaiswal is good; he tells me what to do, and he infuses positive things,” Vaibhav shared. This sentiment was echoed by Vaibhav’s coach, Manish Ojha, who emphasized the chemistry between the two young batters. Both players understand each other’s game and are willing to adapt when batting together.
“Vaibhav is a small kid. He always listens to what the seniors have to say,” Ojha explained. “In the last few matches, Yashasvi took the initiative to attack the bowlers, and as a senior player, he guided Vaibhav. The coordination between them is impressive.” Ojha noted that when one strikes, the other plays a supportive role. “When Yashasvi strikes, Vaibhav plays second fiddle. When Vaibhav strikes, Yashasvi grinds it out. Before the Gujarat match, I told Vaibhav to maintain his equation with Yashasvi because it’s working very well. You can see it — when Vaibhav was going all out against Gujarat, Yashasvi kept giving him the strike. It’s all about the team.”
Ojha also revealed that Vaibhav idolizes Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh, aiming to follow in their footsteps and achieve success on the international stage. His ultimate goal, like many cricketers, is to play for India.