NEW DELHI: The meme “Bihar is not for beginners” remains a popular trend on social media. Be it the stolen bridges, Bihar elections, Bihar’s politicians or even the dialect. For example, after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi helped India win the U-19 World Cup, he called his father, Sanjeev Sooryavanshi, and started with “Papa parnaam.” Not “pranam,” but “parnaam,” the way it’s said in Bihar, with a stretched vowel.The father and son’s talk did not last long. “When Vaibhav called, I couldn’t hold my tears back,” Sanjeev tells TimesofIndia.com from Samastipur, with a lump in his throat.
“He was jumping in joy with other boys. I told him that I would talk to him later because it’s a memorable moment. After this, he won’t get to play in the under-19s. He should enjoy the moment,” he adds.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On Friday, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smoked 15 sixes and 15 fours at a strike rate of 218.75 during a brutal and breathtaking knock in the U-19 World Cup final against England at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe. He scored 24 off his first 24 balls, meaning his last 151 runs came off just 56 deliveries. His knock proved to be the difference as India defeated England by 100 runs and won the title for a record sixth time.
India defeated England to win the ICC U-19 World Cup for a record sixth time. (ICC Media Zone)
“Abhi toh shuruaat hai, abhi bahut aage jaana hai (This is just the beginning, there’s a lot more to achieve). Jab tak Test na khele, kya bada cricketer (Till the time he does not play Tests, I won’t consider him a big cricketer),” says Sanjeev, who has set lofty goals for his son.In Patna, Vaibhav’s coach Manish Ojha’s phone is buzzing with congratulatory messages and some strange requests: “Sir, mera beta do saal ka hai, usko cricketer Vaibhav bana dijiye (My son is two years old, make him like Vaibhav).”“Absolute madness ho rakha hai. The kind of messages I am getting. Vaibhav has brought a sporting revolution in Bihar. Now people will let their kids play sport,” says Ojha, quoting a local proverb which became a song in MS Dhoni’s biopic: “Padhoge likhoge banoge nawaab, kheloge kudoge banoge kharaab (If you study, you’ll become a nobleman; if you only play, you’ll be ruined).”
The trendsetter
Vaibhav’s rise is certainly something that Bihar needed. In cricket, Vaibhav has become a trendsetter, as Ojha says, “He is not a player who believes in taking singles or doubles. His belief system, his instinct, tells him only one thing: go for the kill. He believes in complete domination.”Not to forget, Vaibhav comes from a state which has always set trends. What the English boys tasted in Harare on Friday, the British Empire’s roots were shaken in 1917 when Mahatma Gandhi started the Champaran Satyagraha against the Tinkathia system. Fast forward to 1974, socialist Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, gave the call for Sampoorna Kranti (Total Revolution), which changed the discourse of India.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with the trophy (Image credit: ICC)
Cut to the present, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with his blistering batting, is setting a new trend.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stats in U-19 World Cup final:🔴Sooryavanshi’s innings took his tournament tally to 439 runs in seven innings at an average of 62.71, second only to Mayes (444 runs at 74).🔴It was the highest score in an Under-19 World Cup final, surpassing Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten 111 for India against Australia in the 2012 final.🔴The knock is the ninth-highest score in the history of youth ODIs. South Africa’s Jorich van Schalkwyk (215 vs Zimbabwe) remains the only player to score a double century.🔴Overall, it ranks as the sixth-highest individual score in Under-19 World Cup history.🔴Sooryavanshi smashed a record 15 sixes in a youth ODI innings, breaking his own previous record of 14 against the UAE at last year’s Under-19 Asia Cup.🔴His 15 sixes are the most in a single Under-19 World Cup innings, with only two other players managing double-digit sixes.🔴The century came off 55 balls, the second-fastest hundred in Under-19 World Cups, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball century for Australia against Japan earlier in the tournament.
The slow start
Before the semifinals and the final, Vaibhav’s scores were 72 (67), 40 (23), 52 (23), 30 (22). He was getting starts but was not able to convert them into a big score.
Vaibhav with his coach Manish Ojha at his residence in Patna (Special Arrangement)
“Cricket is a great leveller. Saamne wala bhi toh soch samajh ke bowling karne aata hai. Wo bhi utni hi mehnat kar ke aata hai jitni Vaibhav karta hai (The opposition bowlers also come with a plan. They also work just as hard and put in as much effort as Vaibhav does),” says Vaibhav’s father.In the semi-final, his 33-ball 68 helped India chase down Afghanistan’s 311 runs in 41.1 overs.After this knock, the 14-year-old gained some confidence and, for the first time, he called his father during the tournament.“He does not talk to me until he makes a big score. After doing well in the semi-final, he spoke to me,” shares Sanjeev.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of India waits to take the field
“He said, ‘Papa, I am getting the start but I am not able to convert it. Har jagah shatak lagaye, is tournament mein abhi tak nahi aaya (I have scored centuries everywhere, but it has not come here yet),’” Sanjeev recollects the conversation.“I consoled him. Although I was also getting a bit impatient, I told him that his early blitz was helping the team win games. Play like this and leave the rest to God. He was happy and relaxed that Papa was not angry. He called me again after half an hour. It doesn’t happen that he calls me twice. I again told him to play according to his nature,” he adds.And boy did Vaibhav play according to his nature. Ask Thomas Rew’s boys, who looked hapless on the ground.“Look, I can’t say the tournament wasn’t going well. You could say there weren’t many big scores,” says Vaibhav’s coach.
India’s batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot during the ICC men’s Under-19 World Cup cricket match between England and India in Harare, Zimbabwe, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Solomon Chingono)
“Vaibhav has set such a high benchmark for himself that even scores of 50 or 60 don’t feel significant anymore. If you look closely, the 72 he made against Bangladesh was a match-winning knock. Against Afghanistan in the semi-final, he scored 68 in the first 10 overs and set the tone for India while chasing 300 plus.“What was missing was that one big performance. But that comes with the kind of player Vaibhav is. On the day he gets going, there is no stopping him. Failures and not converting starts are part of the package. Because when he finds his rhythm and is in full flow, everything becomes easy for him and for the team,” he adds.
What next for Vaibhav?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi burst onto the scene in April last year by hitting a six off his first ball in the IPL. He soon became the youngest centurion in men’s T20s, scoring a 35-ball hundred for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, the second-fastest IPL century after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball ton in 2013.In July 2025, he recorded the fastest youth ODI century at the time, reaching three figures in 52 balls while scoring 143 off 78 against England at Worcester. Four months later, he smashed a 32-ball century for India A against the UAE in the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20, eventually making 144 off 42 balls.Sanjeev has just one piece of advice for his son, whom many are predicting could become India’s youngest international cricketer after the ongoing T20 World Cup.
FILE – Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Suryavanshi stands during the award ceremony after his team won the Indian Premier League cricket match against Chennai Super Kings at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)
“I have always told him, jitna achha khelo utna hi jhuk ke raho (The better you play, the more humble you should be). Keep talking to your seniors and coaches, ask them where you can improve. Yes, you have scored a big century in the U-19 World Cup final, but that is done. The goal is to play Test cricket for India.“I gave him Sachin Tendulkar’s reference. He scored so many runs, and there was never any controversy around him. The cricketing world adores him,” says Sanjeev.
Poll
Do you think Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the potential to become India’s youngest international cricketer?
Coach Manish wants his ward to dominate the Ranji Trophy now.“Bihar is in the Elite this year. The BCCI has set a programme for him as well. But his real test will be with the red ball. I am sure he will annihilate bowlers there as well,” said Manish with a laugh.
