By Krishna Dua 
Vaibhav Suryavanshi in Spotlight: Rising Star of Indian Cricket
Bihar’s dusty maidans, once the unlikeliest cradle for cricket prodigies, have birthed a phenomenon on December 24, 2025, as Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old batting sensation, dominates headlines following his blistering 152 not out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarterfinal for Bihar against Kerala. The left-handed opener, born on November 27, 2011, in Vaishali district, has evolved from a backyard net bowler to India’s youngest-ever international call-up prospect, his unbeaten knock off 98 balls—featuring 15 fours and 8 sixes—propelling Bihar to a 45-run victory and a semifinal berth. At Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Vaibhav’s innings not only silenced skeptics but etched his name alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16. “Vaibhav isn’t just a batter; he’s a beacon—his poise under pressure at 14 is a preview of India’s next golden generation,” lauded BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar in a post-match huddle, as the boy’s strike rate of 155.10 drew comparisons to Rohit Sharma’s flair. With the U-19 Asia Cup looming in January 2026, Vaibhav’s spotlight intensifies, a narrative of nurture over nature in a sport where Bihar’s barren fields now bloom with boundless potential.
Vaibhav’s ascent is a saga scripted in sweat and serendipity. Discovered at age 10 during a local talent hunt in Muzaffarpur, he was fast-tracked to the Bihar Cricket Association’s academy under coach Manoj Tiwary, who recalls: “He hit sixes off the first ball—raw power wrapped in remarkable maturity.” By 12, Vaibhav shattered records, becoming the youngest Ranji Trophy debutant in January 2024 against Mumbai, scoring 104 on a green-top at Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium. That century, off 142 balls with 10 fours, announced his arrival, drawing praise from MS Dhoni: “Kid’s got the Dhoni instinct—finishes what he starts.”
From Bihar Backyards to National Nets
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s backstory is Bihar’s beautiful underdog tale, a state long sidelined in cricket’s caste system yet yielding gems like Ishan Kishan. Born to a modest farmer father and schoolteacher mother in Vaishali—Lord Buddha’s enlightenment site—Vaibhav honed his craft on makeshift pitches, using a taped tennis ball against elder brothers. “Cricket was my escape from schoolbooks—Dad’s fields were my floodlit fortress,” he shared in a December 2025 Hindustan Times profile, his family’s Rs 5,000 monthly income a stark contrast to his Rs 50 lakh BCCI stipend since U-19 selection.
The Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), under president Rakesh Tiwari, invested Rs 2 crore in his training, sending him to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru at 11. There, under Rahul Dravid’s tutelage, Vaibhav refined his technique—his cover drive now a whip-crack symphony, his pull a pendulum of power. “Dravid sir taught me patience—wait for the loose ball, then unleash,” Vaibhav credited, his NCA net sessions with Yashasvi Jaiswal forging a mentor-mentee bond. By 13, he captained Bihar’s U-14s to the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, amassing 650 runs at 65 average, including three centuries. His 2025 Ranji double ton against Jharkhand (212 off 180 balls) at Patna sealed a 150-run win, earning him the BCA Player of the Year.
Record-Breaking Ranji Rendezvous
Vaibhav’s Ranji Trophy foray remains folklore, his January 2024 debut against Mumbai at age 12 years 284 days eclipsing Pranav Dhanawade’s 2016 record by 284 days. Batting at No. 3 on a seaming Patna pitch, he faced Jasprit Bumrah’s guest stint, surviving a hat-trick scare to unfurl 104 off 142 balls—12 fours, 2 sixes—in a knock that rescued Bihar from 50 for 3 to 300 all out. “Bumrah bhai’s bounce was brutal—I backed my bat speed,” Vaibhav recalled, his century drawing a standing ovation from 5,000 fans. The innings, Bihar’s first Ranji ton by a sub-15, propelled a draw, with Mumbai’s Ajinkya Rahane tweeting: “Vaibhav’s vintage—vintage Vijay Hazare vibes.”
His 2025 Ranji campaign amplified the acclaim: 850 runs at 56 average across 8 matches, including a 150 against Assam and 120 vs Railways. “Vaibhav’s not a prodigy; he’s a phenomenon—Bihar’s batting blueprint,” Tiwari, BCA president, proclaimed, as the boy’s average eclipsed Ishan Kishan’s debut 45.
U-19 Ascendancy: Asia Cup Ambitions and IPL Intrigue
Vaibhav’s U-19 trajectory tantalizes, his selection for the 2025 Asia Cup in UAE—scoring 320 runs at 64 average, including a 112 vs Bangladesh—earning him Man of the Series. Captaining India U-19 to the final, his 78 off 52 in the decider vs Pakistan sealed a 5-wicket win, drawing Dravid’s praise: “Rinku’s finishing, Vaibhav’s opening—India’s future is framed.” The ACC U-19 Asia Cup, from December 1-15 in Sharjah, showcased his spin-handling savvy, averaging 72 against off-spinners.
IPL intrigue intensifies: unsold at 2025 auction despite base price Rs 20 lakh, Vaibhav’s domestic dazzle has IPL franchises circling for 2026 mega-auction, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings scouting. “Vaibhav’s a Vogel—valuable at the top,” CSK mentor MS Dhoni joked, eyeing his U-19 strike rate of 140. BCCI’s Rs 1 crore U-19 incentive scheme, announced in November 2025, funds his NCA stints.
Mentors’ Muse: Tiwary’s Tutelage and Dravid’s Doctrine
Vaibhav’s vault owes to mentors who molded the mud-caked boy into a maestro. Manoj Tiwary, UP’s veteran (Ranji 10,000 runs), spotted him at 9 during a Muzaffarpur camp, coaching him gratis for three years. “Vaibhav’s vision is vivid—he sees the ball late but hits it miles,” Tiwary told Cricbuzz in December 2025, crediting his pull-shot polish. Rahul Dravid, NCA director, instilled discipline during 2024 sessions: “Play the percentages—patience powers the punch,” Dravid’s mantra echoed in Vaibhav’s 2025 Ranji anchors.
Family’s fortitude: father Manish Suryavanshi, a farmer, sold land for Rs 2 lakh to buy a kit; mother Anju, a teacher, drove him 50 km daily to nets. “They’re my first field—family’s the foundation,” Vaibhav honored in a Star Sports interview.
2026 Horizons: Test Tease and World Cup Whispers
Vaibhav’s 2026 vista vibrates with vistas, the U-19 World Cup in West Indies his immediate icon. As opener, his left-handed leverage against pace could be lethal, with Agarkar eyeing him for senior T20Is post-Asia Cup. “Vaibhav’s versatility vaults him—senior squad by mid-2026,” Dravid forecasted.
Longer loom: a Test cap whispers, his Ranji 212 signaling red-ball readiness for the 2026 Australia tour, where India’s top order craves stability post-Kohli’s retirement. “Vaibhav’s the Vijay—young Vijay Hazare,” Gavaskar gushed in a December 23 column.
Challenges chart: consistency in seam conditions and fitness after a 2025 ankle niggle. “2026 is my canvas—paint with purpose,” Vaibhav vowed.
Verdict: Vaibhav’s Voyage to Stardom
December 24, 2025, dawns as Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s spotlight symphony, the rising star of Indian cricket illuminating the nation’s nets. From Bihar backyards to World Cup whites, his story is sport’s sonnet—a prodigy’s promise, pulsing with potential.