Kamal Ghorui
JAIPUR: Since making his debut for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been repeatedly cautioned against being swept away by the inevitable stardom and popularity. Both then and now, the consensus remains that his ability to cope with immense pressure will be the defining factor of his career going forward.The 14-year-old’s trajectory over the past year has been nothing short of spectacular. By piling up massive runs across tournaments, he has intensified the hype surrounding his evolution as a formidable left-handed batter.
The Bihar-born prodigy is essentially learning to manage this whirlwind of adulation on the job as he navigates the frenzy of fame and fanfare amid his relentless schedule of matches and commitments. And it appears the constant refrain from coaches and seniors to stay focused has begun to sink in, helping him stay grounded as his profile continues to soar.“I am focusing more on my work. Whenever you perform well in any field or reach a good position, you are bound to get attention. It is up to you how you handle it and how you manage it. So I mostly try to focus on my game. Also, there are regular matches coming up, so I’m occupied there,” he said during a Royals event here on Monday, which was also attended by veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja. Vaibhav finds deepest satisfaction and greatest source of pride in representing India on the biggest stages. For the young prodigy, nothing compares to the thrill and emotional weight of his match-defining performance in the 2026 Under-19 World Cup final, a knock that helped India secure their sixth title. “My personal favorite would have to be from the last Under-19 World Cup that we played. I played a significant innings in the finals, which is very special to me. Even though I had scored a hundred in my first IPL season, the U-19 World Cup was a unique experience for me as you can play only one U-19 WC and I contributed to the team’s victory. It was a very proud moment and that knock remains very special to me. And in the IPL I will get more opportunities to score big runs,” he said.In the World Cup final held in Harare, he scored 175 runs off just 80 balls against England. His record-breaking innings, which included 15 fours and 15 sixes, powered India to a massive total of 411 as India defeated England by a dominant 100-run margin, the largest in the history of U-19 World Cup finals.
