You know those kids in school who seem like they’re just there for the class photo, but then go on to top every exam? That’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi, but on a cricket field. No amount of praise is enough for this boy.
He’s just 14. And he’s already sending World Cup winners and IPL veterans on a leather hunt. Rajasthan Royals have found themselves a baby-faced assassin, and the league is still trying to recover from the shock.
One great innings – maybe a fluke. Two – you could still call it luck. But when you start making it a habit to dominate senior pros match after match? That’s pure chaos, sprinkled with serious talent.
He dismantled Gujarat Titans with a 35-ball century. Followed it up with a fiery 15-ball 40. And now, he’s taken down CSK with a 27-ball 50. And mind you, this brilliant knock came against MS Dhoni’s team. The same Dhoni who was India’s World Cup-winning captain when Vaibhav was born. Today, in a plot twist straight out of a Christopher Nolan movie, Vaibhav is playing his debut IPL season, while Dhoni is technically an uncapped player. Only in India. Seriously.
And the wildest part? He’s not even physically there yet. At 14, his arms are probably still waiting for puberty’s permission, and yet he’s muscling the ball cleaner than half the gym bros out there. The kid has absolutely no chill.
But for all his electricity, there’s still a learning curve. Talent without temperament is like a rocket with no GPS. Tuesday’s game was a good example. Sanju Samson fell, and in the same over, Vaibhav went for a big shot and lost his wicket too. T20 is fast, but timing is everything – not just with the bat, but with your choices.
Vaibhav is living the dream that every Indian boy has had, holding a plastic bat in hand and staring at the TV screen. But not everyone gets to live that dream. Fortunately, time is firmly on his side. And so is Rahul Dravid. Imagine being mentored by The Wall while you’re still trying to crack Algebra.
Your dad told you stories about a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar? Cool. Now, get ready to tell your kids about the 14-year-old storm named Vaibhav Suryavanshi – the boy wonder, the Chhota Don, and maybe, just maybe, the future of Indian cricket.
