Just a day after his sensational IPL debut, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s coach, Manish Ojha, shared insights into how the Bihar-born cricketer had prepared for the tournament.
At just 14 years and 23 days old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest-ever player to debut in the IPL, stepping in as an impact substitute for the Rajasthan Royals in their match against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday in Jaipur. But it wasn’t just his age that made headlines—his performance stole the show. Vaibhav smashed the first ball of his IPL career, delivered by Shardul Thakur, for a stunning six over cover. He went on to score a quickfire 34 off 20 balls, forming an 85-run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal and instantly becoming the talk of the tournament.
The hype around the young prodigy had been mounting ever since Rajasthan Royals picked him up for ₹1.1 crore in last November’s IPL auction. That buzz only intensified after his blistering 58-ball century for India U19 in a Test match against Australia. Earlier this week, the Royals even shared a video of him confidently facing Jofra Archer in the nets, hinting at his readiness for the big stage.
Following Vaibhav’s sensational debut, his coach Manish Ojha offered insights into the teen’s disciplined preparations. He revealed that Vaibhav had made significant sacrifices to stay fit, giving up his favorite foods like mutton and pizza.
“He has been given strict dietary instructions — no mutton, and pizza has been removed from his chart. He’s very fond of chicken and mutton. Being a kid, he loved pizza too. Whenever we gave him mutton, he would finish it all — that’s why he’s a bit chubby,” Ojha told the Times of India.
Though Vaibhav is still in the early stages of his cricketing journey, Ojha was full of praise, saying the youngster has qualities reminiscent of two legends.
“He’s going to go a long way. The way he started his innings shows his fearlessness. He has often said he looks up to Brian Lara, but I see a mix of Yuvraj Singh and Lara in him. His aggression mirrors Yuvraj’s,” Ojha said.
With talent, temperament, and the right guidance, Vaibhav Suryavanshi looks set to be a star of the future.
