Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the rising star of the Rajasthan Royals, is still grabbing headlines both on and off the cricket field. At 14 years of age, his meteoric journey in the IPL has gained him a worldwide following, and his recent stint with the India U19 team during their tour of England provided a glimpse into how fast the young sensation is emerging as a household name.
On the tour, fans lined up outside the stadiums to catch up with the young opener, keen to take photographs and obtain autographs. As Vaibhav demonstrated maturity at the crease, dealing with the fans was a new experience for the teenager.
Teammate Remembers Vaibhav’s Shyness
India U19 teammate Vihaan Malhotra, who has shared a dressing room with Vaibhav on the England tour, recounted a witty joke regarding the young star’s reaction to his fans.
“Vaibhav ke fans aaye hue the. Wo bol rahe the ki Vaibhav ko bulao, aur use sharm aa rahi thi. Hum use chidhate rehte the,” Malhotra informed the Times of India. (Vaibhav’s fans came to meet him. He was signing autographs but was actually embarrassed, and we also teased him a lot.)
As the youngest of the team, Vaibhav unavoidably got special attention and pampering from fans and players alike. Malhotra mentioned that the camaraderie eased the teenager into the limelight while maintaining the pressure of playing professional cricket with the thrill of being a fan.
IPL Heroics Fuel Global Popularity
Vaibhav’s ascension to stardom follows an out-of-the-world IPL 2025 season. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored 252 runs in seven matches at a stunning strike rate of 206.55. His fearlessness to take on bowlers with free-flowing stroke play has earned him a place among the most thrilling young stars in Indian cricket.
Even while he had to contend with best-quality opposition, fan management was a new challenge. His awkwardness at greeting fans in England brought out the difference between his on-field confidence and off-field naivety a reminder that even with international exposure, Vaibhav is just a 14-year-old discovering the ropes.
A Partnership to Remember
Malhotra and Suryavanshi had a night to remember with a partnership of 209 for the second wicket in one of the U19 one-dayers in England. Both of them made a century each, but Vaibhav’s bold show was the highlight.
In the fourth one-day, I had the best seat in the house. Vaibhav smoked 10 sixes, and his bat swing is something we are in awe of,” Malhotra remembered. The show also boosted the morale of the team and solidified Vaibhav’s image as a big-hitting and gutsy batter at the international junior level.
Inspiration for Teammates
Malhotra looked back at how Vaibhav has impacted him individually, “A cricketing pitch always teaches you something new. For instance, in my case, I have two absolute stars in my side. Competition is there, and in the future, people will compare us with them also, but it is beneficial for us. When Vaibhav was smashing sixes for entertainment during the IPL, it motivated me to work hard.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s journey from a shy teenager in England to a globally recognized cricketing prodigy illustrates both his talent and the universal appeal of young athletes who make fans smile on and off the field.
