NEW DELHI: 47/0 was the scoreline. Four balls later, it became 47/3. A sense of unease crept in as India looked to have lost the early momentum against Pakistan during their crucial U19 World Cup 2026 match on Sunday. Against the same opponent, India had already conceded the plot recently, in the U19 Asia Cup final.
And when the hype around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre died down with their early dismissals, the need of the hour was the emergence of a saviour. In stepped, Ahmedabad-based batter Vedant Trivedi. When India needed a hero, Vedant, chipping in with a 98-ball 68, became the villain for Pakistan.Trivedi showed remarkable discipline on a pitch which was difficult to bat on, rescuing the Indian team from a precarious situation and enabling them to post a total of 252. The 18-year-old cricketer pulled off a strong comeback, having failed to cross the 15-run mark in previous matches, and now finishing as the top run-getter. ‘Focus on crossing the 30-run mark’“My initial few shots against Pakistan connected quite well, sparking confidence that it would be my day. The focus was on batting as long as possible. Runs weren’t flowing freely off the bat in the previous matches. I just told myself to focus on crossing the 30-run mark during that phase, as net sessions were going well,” said Vedant during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com.While the 18-year-old cricketer’s strong mentality certainly reflected in his shot selection, he maintains the same intent even off the field. Trivedi hasn’t consumed sugar since the age of 10, abstaining from eating biscuits in a strong show of internal discipline and clarity.‘Idolising Shubman Gill’The Gujarat batter idolises Shubman Gill as his association with the game began in a similar manner to that of the Team India captain, considering the role played by his father. Interestingly, the cricketer also emulated Gill’s celebration in a domestic match.
Vedant Trivedi (Special arrangements)
Trivedi’s father Alpesh used to bowl 300 deliveries daily to him, developing a strong initial framework with emphasis on technique rather than power. Eventually, the 18-year-old cricketer joined a coaching academy, which further involved sacrifices, travelling between 80 to 100 kilometers per day. Trivedi worked extensively with coaches Hem Joshipura and Jesal Karia, refining his gameplay.‘Converting 40s into tons, non-reliance on power’Joshipura helped imbibe awareness and clarity regarding the batter’s strengths and the areas where work was deemed necessary. “The best part is that he implemented the feedback immediately. Vedant worked upon taking quick singles, hitting boundaries down the ground as well as maintaining patience. I told him power is not the only necessity to score runs, which propelled his consistency to the next level especially during the last edition of the Cooch Behar Trophy,” stated the Gujarat coach.
Vedant Trivedi (Special arrangements)
Karia worked upon Trivedi’s gameplay against pace, helping him react in a sharper manner. There was also specific training for the ongoing World Cup, enhancing the number of shots which could be deployed against spinners considering the wickets in Zimbabwe. Karia developed Trivedi’s comfort levels while playing the cut and pull shot, boosting his ability to switch gears with some technical adjustments.“Initially, Vedant couldn’t concert his 40s into centuries leaving him very disappointed. However, he responded well and overcame that by batting for six hours daily. Many people feel that batting in an orthodox manner reduces scope to score runs. However, Vedant is well capable of accelerating when the chips are down despite his traditional gameplay,” stated Karia.‘Motivation from England series snub’The 18-year-old cricketer wasn’t picked in the U-19 squad for a tour of England in 2025, leaving him in a state of dismay. However, Trivedi took the snub as a challenge, finishing among the only two centurions during a series of matches conducted at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. The consistent performances soon earned the batter a spot in the squad for a tour of Australia, where he finished as the top run-getter. Trivedi drew inspiration from Sourav Ganguly, who has influenced his approach, in order to excel during the overseas tour.‘Sourav Ganguly’s inputs prove vital’“Vedant saw a video of Ganguly where he discussed the shots which can be played in Australian conditions considering the importance of control on such wickets. He followed the approach discussed thoroughly, enhancing his comfort levels massively. There was also specific focus on a lot of training drills, facing synthetic balls to develop greater fluency,” stated the cricketer’s father. Impressively, Trivedi was back on the training ground just the day after landing in India following the Australian tour, showcasing his commitment levels and focus on the process. The 18-year-old cricketer faces 700 balls daily in net sessions, training for six to seven hours.
Vedant Trivedi with parents (Special arrangements)
Former Team India cricketer Parthiv Patel has played a key role in developing this mental resolve, discussing the importance of a strong mindset. Interestingly, Trivedi is further quite talented off the field, excelling in playing the casio. “God is very kind. He times everything perfectly as evident from the comeback knock against Pakistan which came at the best possible time,” stated the cricketer’s father. With momentum on his side, Trivedi could well go on to make an all-important contribution in the semi-final against Afghanistan, emulating his idol’s heroics.
