Bihar’s 14-year-old sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, delivered yet another glimpse of his talent in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Facing Chandigarh at Eden Gardens, he stepped out with the same confidence he shows in the IPL for Rajasthan Royals — and went after Sandeep Sharma immediately.
Two clean sixes in four balls put Bihar on the front foot, but the fourth delivery trapped him LBW.
The knock lasted only moments, but the strike rate of 350 said enough about his intent.
Freedom to Play His Natural Game
Just like his IPL franchise, Bihar have clearly given Sooryavanshi the room to be himself — bold, attacking, and instinctive. At 14, no one expects him to score big in every match. What matters is that he’s steadily learning how to balance aggression with patience.
He’s also carrying impressive form into this tournament. His recent performances include:
- A brilliant century for India U19 vs Australia U19
- A composed 93 in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar
- A stunning 144 for India A vs UAE in the Rising Stars Asia Cup
Those runs have made him one of the most-watched young batters in India.
Asia Cup Drama & The Super Over Controversy
Sooryavanshi looked so fluent during the Asia Cup that fans were shocked when he wasn’t sent out to bat in the powerplay during the semifinal against Bangladesh A.
India had conceded 194, but Sooryavanshi (38 off 15) and Priyansh Arya (44 off 23) ignited the chase with a blazing start. Jitesh Sharma (33) and Nehal Wadhera (32*) kept India close, but Meherob Hasan’s explosive 48 off 18 swung the momentum Bangladesh’s way late in the game.
The match ended in a tie, leading to a Super Over.
But India chose Jitesh Sharma, Ramandeep Singh, and Ashutosh Sharma — bypassing the two in-form hitters, Sooryavanshi and Arya. The decision immediately backfired as Bangladesh kept India to 0 in the Super Over.
Jitesh later defended the call:
“They (Vaibhav and Priyansh) are masters of powerplay, but in the death me, Ashu and Raman are who can hit at will. So, it was a team decision and my decision.”
Looking Ahead: Momentum for IPL 2026
Despite the missed chance in the Super Over, Sooryavanshi’s upward trajectory remains intact. With consistent runs across formats and fearless batting in pressure situations, he’s building serious momentum ahead of IPL 2026.
At just 14, he’s already making seasoned bowlers rethink their plans — and the cricket world is watching closely.
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