At just 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken the cricketing world by storm—but behind the explosive strokeplay lies years of relentless, almost unimaginable hard work.
Gruelling routine that built a prodigy
According to his childhood coach Manish Ojha, Sooryavanshi’s rise is the result of six years of intense, repetitive training that forged his remarkable muscle memory.
- Practised 8 hours a day
- Faced around 100 overs daily
- Played 600+ balls every single day
His training sessions would begin at 7:30 AM and stretch till 4 PM, involving:
- 200–300 throwdowns from the coach
- Support staff stepping in when fatigue set in
- Academy bowlers rotating in groups
- Additional sessions on the bowling machine
This relentless repetition helped develop his signature bat swing and timing—now seen in his fearless strokeplay.
“We didn’t count balls… but it was over 600”
Ojha described the sessions as physically exhausting not just for the player, but for everyone involved.
“When I got tired, others stepped in. When they got tired, bowlers came in. Sometimes even they got exhausted,” he recalled, highlighting the sheer intensity of the setup.
The philosophy was simple: repeat, refine, and reinforce—until technique became instinct.
Sacrifices behind the scenes
Behind Sooryavanshi’s rise is a story of extraordinary family commitment.
- His father would drive him 2.5 hours from Samastipur to Patna daily
- His mother Aarti Sooryavanshi woke up at 2 AM to prepare meals
- Food was packed not just for them, but for 10–15 people, including bowlers and underprivileged kids
Ojha emphasised that this support system played a crucial role:
“Without the parents’ support, nothing is possible.”
From tennis ball to IPL dominance
Sooryavanshi’s transition from tennis-ball cricket to hard-ball cricket marked a turning point. The volume of balls he faced from a young age built extraordinary hand-eye coordination.
That foundation translated into stunning results:
- 776 runs in IPL season
- Strike rate of 237+
- India call-up at just 15
His meteoric rise has even drawn comparisons from legends like Dale Steyn, who believes he could surpass icons such as Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
A new benchmark for young aspirants
Ojha revealed a growing trend—parents now bringing children as young as five years old to academies, hoping to replicate Sooryavanshi’s success.
However, he cautioned that such success cannot be replicated easily.
“This level of dedication, discipline, and support—it’s rare,” he noted.
Conclusion
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s story is not just about talent—it’s about extreme discipline, relentless repetition, and deep family sacrifice. His journey from a small-town kid to one of world cricket’s most exciting prospects is a blueprint of what it truly takes to reach the top.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News Karnataka staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)