Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hated fielding: Childhood coach shares untold story

India National Cricket Team’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of creating history. As India gets ready for the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast on June 26, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will become the youngest player ever to represent India at the age of just 15 years and 91 days if he gets a place in the playing XI.

After the two-match T20I series in Ireland, the teenage sensation was also picked for India’s T20I series against England and Asian Games 2026 as well. Vaibhav’s story is special; it started with his father, Sanjiv Sooryavanshi, who was a club-level cricketer from Bihar’s Motipur village.

Coach spotted something special in the tiny Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Sanjiv Sooryavanshi could never fulfill his own cricket dream, but when coaches noticed his son’s extraordinary talent, he put all his time and effort into helping Vaibhav chase a bigger dream. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s England tour comes with unique restrictions and separate facilities.

His first coach, Brajesh Jha, still remembers the ‘tiny’ left-handed batter standing among much older boys during training sessions. Despite being much younger, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi quickly understood instructions and learned new skills faster than most players around him.

Brajesh Jha was quoted as saying by The Athletic, “When he first came, there were very few children playing cricket in the Samastipur district. There was this tiny child among all the seniors… As soon as he was told something, he followed the task very quickly—how to take a stance, how to run, whatever was explained to him.”

Coach recalls Patna trials

Recalling trials in Patna, the coach said that people started discussing a young left-hander, and the buzz grew so much that Vaibhav earned a place in Bihar’s Under-17 team at just 8.

He added, “When we took him to Patna for trials, in the whole area, the news spread that there was a small left-handed batter from Samastipur who had exceptional talent. He was selected for the state Under-17 team at the age of eight and a half.”

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Love for batting left his coach amazed

Jha shared that batting was always Vaibhav’s biggest love, and he could spend hours in the nets without getting tired. He said, “The level of toughness that he had in his practice sessions—the more I increased it, the more easily he adapted to it.”

“His adaptability was amazing. When Vaibhav used to train, if you sent him for fielding, within 10 minutes he would come and say his head was hurting. But if you asked him to even bat at night, he would never say he was tired.”

At the age of nine, Vaibhav once faced 100 deliveries against state-level bowlers but scored only 30 runs. However, the teenager’s coach was delighted because a young boy surviving 100 balls against much older bowlers showed tremendous courage and patience.

Later, Vaibhav made his India debut at the age of 12 and smashed a century against Gujarat Titans in his debut season. The Rajasthan Royals had signed the Bihar lad for INR 1.10 crore and is now set to make his parents proud.