Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 10-year-old brother Ashirvad Sooryavanshi: All-round batsman, fish lover and 'tabahi' in the making

NEW DELHI: The Sooryavanshi household in Motipur village of Tajpur in Samastipur (Bihar) already has one cricket sensation in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Now another youngster from the family is starting to attract attention – 10-year-old Ashirvad Sooryavanshi.Vaibhav’s younger brother has already offered a glimpse of what may lie ahead. In his very first match for the Tajpur Cricket Academy, Ashirvad, who started playing cricket only six months ago, smashed 103 runs off just 87 balls in the practice match. His innings was littered with 20 fours and a six.The knock may have occurred in local cricket, but it quickly reached a much wider audience after Vaibhav, who is currently representing India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, shared a screenshot of his younger brother’s score on social media.The post immediately drew attention to the 10-year-old and sparked curiosity about another budding cricketer from the Sooryavanshi household.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Post (Photo: Special Arrangement)

ONLY SIX MONTHS OF PREPARATION

Ashirvad’s century is notable for playing cricket for just six months. The youngster quickly adapted to the game and wasted little time in making an impression.“Ashirvad started playing cricket only six months ago, but he quickly learned the basics of bat handling and grip,” Chandra Deep, Ashirvad’s coach and the man who runs the Tajpur Cricket Academy, told TimesofIndia. com in the interview.The coach believes the younger Sooryavanshi is showing signs of following a similar path to his elder brother.

“Wo khawaat ki bade miyaan to bade miyaan, chhote miyaan subhanallah. Bas wahi samajh jiye. Dono bhai, dono taabaahi.”

Chandra Deep, Ashirvad’s trainer

SAME COUNTRY, SAME DREAM

Ashirvad’s cricketing journey began at the same place where Vaibhav’s dreams first took shape.Right behind the family house are two practice fields – one cemented and one clay. It was on these surfaces that Vaibhav spent countless hours honing his skills as a child. Today, Ashirvad trains at the same location following a familiar path.

(Photo: Special arrangement)

According to coach Chandra Deep, the contrasting surfaces provide very different challenges and played a key role in shaping Vaibhav’s game. Now the younger brother is undergoing the same grind.“A cement pitch offers more pace. On a clay pitch, the ball swings, spins and spins, but also holds a lot, so the batting is much tougher. Vaibhav practiced on these surfaces from a very young age and now Ashirvad is doing the same,” he said.

NOT A COPY OF VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI

Comparisons between the two brothers are inevitable, but Ashirvad is far from a mirror image of Vaibhav.While Vaibhav is a left-arm batsman who can spin the bowler, Ashirvad is a right-arm batsman and a right-arm medium pacer. In fact, the young man considers himself a jack of all trades.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ashirvad Sooryavanshi (Photo: Special Arrangement)

When asked if Ashirvad reminds him of any current cricketer, the coach came up with an interesting comparison.

“Vaibhav was gifted with the bat. But Ashirvad chose his own path. We once asked him what he wanted to become and he said he was an all-rounder. That’s what Hardik Pandya looks like. Batting mein bhi hai. Bowling mein bhi hai.”

Chandra Deep

LEARNING BY WATCHING YOUR OLDER BROTHER

Ashirvad spent hours watching Vaibhav train. Whether at home or during training sessions, he watched his elder brother closely and gradually became interested in cricket.According to Chandra Deep, Ashirvad is a quiet child who prefers to concentrate on his game rather than talk too much.

“He says, ‘I want to play like my brother and work just as hard.’ Vaibhav inspired him a lot”

Chandra Deep

Perhaps no one celebrates Vaibhav’s success more passionately than Ashirvad. During Vaibhav’s spectacular IPL 2026 season, where he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, and his under-19 World Cup performances, the younger brother celebrated with crackers at home.Whenever Vaibhav’s matches are on TV, Ashirvad makes sure he is glued to the screen.

COVER RIDING AND THE LOVE OF FISH

Like most young cricketers, Ashirvad has a favorite shot – the cover disc. His daily routine revolves around cricket, with morning physical training followed by long batting sessions.And when the cricket is over, he enjoys one thing more than anything else – fish.Like their cricket, the two brothers also differ in their choice of food. While Vaibhav was known for his love of mutton growing up, Ashirvad cannot do without fish.“Women really like it. Want it with food,” the trainer said.

Coach Ashirvad Sooryavanshi (Photo: Special Arrangement)

WANTING TO WATCH HIS BROTHER SCORES A CENTURY

With Vaibhav having already earned selection in India’s T20I squad for the tour of England and Ireland and in the Asian Games squad – becoming the youngest player to do so – attention is slowly starting to shift to his younger brother.

Should young athletes focus on a specific role (such as batting or bowling) early on?

But for now, Ashirvad is simply a 10-year-old boy who enjoys watching his elder brother bat.

Ashirvad Sooryavanshi (Photo: Special Arrangement)

As the family prepares to travel to the UK, the youngster can barely contain his excitement. More than anything, Vaibhava wants to see him score a century in person.“He’s going to the UK with his family, very happy. He says he wants to see his brother break the century,” the coach signed off.For the Sooryavanshis, the dream that began on two humble playgrounds behind their home may just be beginning its second chapter.