Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravindra Jadeja and Yash Raj Punja. (Photo/TNN) JAIPUR: Since making his debut for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been repeatedly warned not to get carried away by the inevitable stardom and popularity. The consensus then and now is that his ability to cope with immense pressure will be the determining factor in his future career.The 14-year-old’s trajectory over the past year has been nothing short of spectacular. Accumulating massive runs across the tournament has intensified the hype surrounding his evolution as a formidable left-handed batsman.
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The Bihar-born prodigy is essentially learning to manage this whirlwind of adulation at work as he navigates the frenzy of fame and fanfare amid his relentless schedule of matches and commitments. And the constant nagging from coaches and seniors to stay focused seems to have started to sink in, helping him stay grounded as his profile continues to rise.“I focus more on my work. Whenever you perform well in any field or reach a good position, you have to get attention. It’s up to you how you deal with it and how you handle it. So mostly I try to focus on my game. Regular matches are also coming up, so I’m busy there,” he said during the Royals event here on Monday, which was also attended by Ravinsh Jaya-Rajjaspindejer allrounder. Vaibhav finds the 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 U-19 World Cup final, helping India secure a sixth title. “My personal favorite would have to be from the last U19 World Cup we played. I played an important innings in the final, which is very special to me. Even though I scored a hundred in my first IPL season, the U19 World Cup was a unique experience for me because you only get to play one U19 World Cup and I contributed to the team’s victory. It was a very proud moment for me and I will be very proud of that big score. running,” he said.He scored 175 runs in just 80 balls against England in the World Cup final held in Harare. His record-breaking innings, which included 15 fours and 15 sixes, guided India to a massive total of 411 as India beat England by a dominant margin of 100 runs, the biggest in the history of an U-19 World Cup final.
