Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's childhood coach Manish Ojha describes his ward as a "God's child" and credits fate and divine guidance for bringing the youngster to his academy.
"A couple of years ago, I thanked Vaibhav's father (Sanjeev Sooryavanshi) for bringing the kid to me. Ispe bhagwaan ka haath hai (He is God's child). It is because of him that I got recognition, otherwise who gives two cents about a cricket coach in Bihar?," an emotional Manish tells TimesofIndia.com after the 15-year-old received his maiden India call-up for the Ireland and England series.
"Sab Bhagwaan ki kripa hai (God has been kind). The kid is immensely talented and has worked hard. Credit to his father as well," he says.
Riding on a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, the 15-year-old from Bihar will now don the blue jersey.
"When we talk about Bihar, we always talk about our past, from the Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, Buddhism, Jainism, Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Yatra or the JP Movement. In modern times, it has often been in the news for all the notorious things. This teenager is not only hitting sixes but also smashing those stigmas ******* ociated with Bihar out of the park. Imagine Sachin Tendulkar calling him 'truly special' or Virat Kohli telling Vaibhav, 'Ek Bihari, sab pe bhari, phir khatam game.' What Vaibhav has managed to achieve in the last few months is phenomenal," says Ojha.
Sooryavanshi smashed 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30. He also hit a record-breaking 72 sixes during a season that saw him narrowly miss out on the fastest century in IPL history.
"He is a big-match player. We have seen that in the IPL playoffs. In the U-19 World Cup final, he again played a scintillating knock. It is a great call by the selectors to pick him. And this is just the beginning. He will achieve a lot more," says Ojha.
Ojha says his ward is a "quick learner". According to him, the preparation before every game helps Sooryavanshi play his aggressive brand of cricket and take on the best bowlers without fear.
"He prepares in his own way. It's not that he sits with video ******* ysts, but he does his homework," says Ojha.
This conscientious approach and unshakeable temperament led the selectors to name the explosive Sooryavanshi in the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England.
Sooryavanshi has not only caught the attention of greats like Tendulkar and Kohli, but India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has also been effusive in his praise for the teenager. In a near-solo effort, Sooryavanshi almost dragged Rajasthan Royals into the IPL 2026 final. In the Eliminator, he smashed a 29-ball 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and then followed it up with a 47-ball 96 against Gill's Gujarat ******* ans.
"I think he's had a remarkable season. I've not seen anyone bat the way he bats and, in this format, he is probably one of the best batters in the world right now," Gill had said after Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur.
"It is remar
"A couple of years ago, I thanked Vaibhav's father (Sanjeev Sooryavanshi) for bringing the kid to me. Ispe bhagwaan ka haath hai (He is God's child). It is because of him that I got recognition, otherwise who gives two cents about a cricket coach in Bihar?," an emotional Manish tells TimesofIndia.com after the 15-year-old received his maiden India call-up for the Ireland and England series.
"Sab Bhagwaan ki kripa hai (God has been kind). The kid is immensely talented and has worked hard. Credit to his father as well," he says.
Riding on a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, the 15-year-old from Bihar will now don the blue jersey.
"When we talk about Bihar, we always talk about our past, from the Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, Buddhism, Jainism, Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Yatra or the JP Movement. In modern times, it has often been in the news for all the notorious things. This teenager is not only hitting sixes but also smashing those stigmas ******* ociated with Bihar out of the park. Imagine Sachin Tendulkar calling him 'truly special' or Virat Kohli telling Vaibhav, 'Ek Bihari, sab pe bhari, phir khatam game.' What Vaibhav has managed to achieve in the last few months is phenomenal," says Ojha.
Sooryavanshi smashed 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30. He also hit a record-breaking 72 sixes during a season that saw him narrowly miss out on the fastest century in IPL history.
"He is a big-match player. We have seen that in the IPL playoffs. In the U-19 World Cup final, he again played a scintillating knock. It is a great call by the selectors to pick him. And this is just the beginning. He will achieve a lot more," says Ojha.
Ojha says his ward is a "quick learner". According to him, the preparation before every game helps Sooryavanshi play his aggressive brand of cricket and take on the best bowlers without fear.
"He prepares in his own way. It's not that he sits with video ******* ysts, but he does his homework," says Ojha.
This conscientious approach and unshakeable temperament led the selectors to name the explosive Sooryavanshi in the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England.
Sooryavanshi has not only caught the attention of greats like Tendulkar and Kohli, but India's Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has also been effusive in his praise for the teenager. In a near-solo effort, Sooryavanshi almost dragged Rajasthan Royals into the IPL 2026 final. In the Eliminator, he smashed a 29-ball 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and then followed it up with a 47-ball 96 against Gill's Gujarat ******* ans.
"I think he's had a remarkable season. I've not seen anyone bat the way he bats and, in this format, he is probably one of the best batters in the world right now," Gill had said after Qualifier 2 in Mullanpur.
"It is remar
5 months ago
