New Delhi, March 30: Fifteen-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Suryaanshi from Bihar is gearing up for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season 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 revealed that even at the age of 11, Suryaanshi displayed an aggressive style of play.
During an interview on ‘GeoStar’s Tata IPL Dream On’, Ojha recounted how Suryaanshi first joined the academy in 2018 with his father. “It was clear from the beginning that he had talent and a true passion for cricket. He always preferred to play aggressively while batting, and his timing was exceptional. He would face 400-500 balls in every session and wouldn’t stop until I gave him a break,” Ojha said.
The coach noted that during an open net session in 2022, Suryaanshi was given a 40-over batting slot against new-ball bowlers and spinners. “I noticed he only wanted to play big, lofty shots. I told him that as he progressed to under-16 and under-19 cricket for his state, he would need to face hundreds of balls and play long innings. If he kept trying to hit big shots on every delivery and ignored singles or doubles, the chances of getting out would increase. But he would reply, ‘Sir, if I can hit a six on that ball, why should I take a single?'” Ojha recounted.
Regarding Suryaanshi’s IPL trials, Ojha mentioned that he was given various targets, which he consistently achieved. For instance, in the first over, he was tasked with scoring 18 runs, which he accomplished in just three balls. When advised to play more shots on the off-side, he responded by hitting big shots in that area as well. In another trial, he was given a target of 24 runs in an over, which he achieved in five balls.
Discussing Suryaanshi’s performance in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, Ojha said, “During the tournament, he often got out after scoring 50 or 70 runs. He was giving India good starts but struggled to finish the innings. I messaged him that everything was going 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 eventually, he scored a century in the final when his team needed it the most.”
Last season, Suryaanshi scored 252 runs at an average of 36 in seven matches for the Rajasthan Royals, including one century and one half-century. On ‘Tata IPL Dream On’, he spoke about his childhood heroes and his cricketing journey in Bihar. 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. I admired that about them. I scored heavily in domestic cricket for Bihar, in league matches and trials for potential players. Then my coach selected me for the BCCI Under-19 tournament, the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. I played that tournament and then participated in the Challengers Trophy.”
He added, “In 2023, I started my international career in a four-team series that included two Indian teams along with Bangladesh and England. From there, I gradually progressed and played my first match in the Ranji Trophy. Since I began playing domestic cricket, the Rajasthan Royals had been keeping an eye on me. Their scouting team had been monitoring me for quite some time.”
Suryaanshi stated, “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 continue 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, my performance and that of the team will naturally be in the spotlight, and that is what matters most.”