For four years, before the sun made it to the horizon of Tajpur, a small village in Bihar’s Samastipur district, Sanjeev Suryavanshi would set off on a 90-kilometre journey to Patna with his 9-year-old son Vaibhav and a bunch of other boys – a ritual every alternate day.
“Vaibhav’s father, my brother, took him to a cricket academy in Patna three to four times a week by road, along with other local bowlers so he could practise,” said Rajeev Suryavanshi. “My sister-in-law, Aarti, woke up early to cook and pack meals for them.”
On Monday, 14-year-old Vaibhav smashed a 35-ball century for against – the fastest by an Indian in history and the second-fastest overall, and dedicated it to his parents.
“Whatever I am today, wherever I stand, it’s because of them. My mother would sleep at 11 at night and wake up at 2 in the morning so that she could cook for me. My father quit his job, woke up early in the morning. My elder brother took over my father’s responsibilities. It was tough at home, but my father insisted, ‘You’ll make it,’” the teenager recalled.
“I had seen Vaibhav bhaiyya practising here, sometimes till midnight. I never miss his IPL matches, his sixes are thrilling,” said Shivam Kumar, a 10-year-old who lives close to Vaibhav’s home.
In Tajpur, a narrow lane off State Highway 49 lined with trees and greenery leads to Vaibhav’s single-storey home. Next to it is a green netted practice area, with a concrete pitch in one half and a turf pitch on the other, built by Vaibhav’s family to nurture his talent.
“No matter how fierce the sun, Vaibhav was always out there practising, with Sanjeev by the net, guiding his every move,” said Sanjay Nayak, 52, who lives nearby. “In Tajpur, Sanjeev’s name is synonymous with cricket.”
Rajeev says his brother was keen to realise his own sporting dreams through his son. “My brother was a fine player, a promising cricketer in the 1980s and 1990s, but there were no facilities, infrastructure, support or opportunities in Bihar back then… He couldn’t break through,” Rajeev said. “When he saw talent in Vaibhav, he channelled his unfulfilled dream into his son.”
At just 4 years of age, Vaibhav‘s batting poise in backyard games caught Sanjeev’s eye. “Still a toddler, Vaibhav used to scream chhakka (sixer), swinging a plastic bat and ball around the house,” said his grandmother Usha Singh. “As he grew, Sanjeev saw his potential and told us, ‘I couldn’t play for India, but my son will.’ He coached him daily, pouring his heart into Vaibhav’s game.”
“When Vaibhav got calls for IPL trials, his grandfather Umesh Prasad Singh predicted that he would make it to the tournament,” she recalled. “He passed away in July 2024, before the auction. He had a dream that Vaibhav would play for India. He would have been so proud of his records.”
Sanjeev began coaching Vaibhav in the backyard, and by the time he was 7, enrolled him in a cricket academy at Patel Maidan in Samastipur, where his technique was refined further.
“Vaibhav has always been an attacking player, and his time with the Rajasthan Royals further polished his game,” said Brajesh Jha, his coach at Patel Maidan. “His hunger to learn sets him apart. He rarely makes mistakes, and when he does, he works tirelessly to correct them.”
Vaibhav’s family left no stone unturned to match his passion for cricket. Sanjeev built the practice pitch with a net beside their home, “inviting local and university bowlers” to bowl to his son.
“My brother arranged their food, sometimes travel costs, to ensure Vaibhav’s practice never faltered,” Rajeev said. “The bowlers got to face a gifted batsman, so they came eagerly.”
To hone Vaibhav’s skills further, Sanjeev subsequently enrolled him at the Gennex Cricket Academy in Patna, under coach Manish Ojha. There, the then 9-year-old boy would train from 7:30 am to 5 pm.
“My brother took other kids along so Vaibhav always had someone to bowl to him,” Rajeev said. On off days, Vaibhav practised in Samastipur with the same intensity.
“He would start playing early morning… Rain or sun, nothing stopped him,” said Ashok Nayak, 39, a family friend and former mukhiya of nearby Baghi Panchayat. “Even as a kid, his focus was unreal. I would enjoy watching his practice sessions at home for hours.”
“No bowler could get bhaiyya out… They would get tired trying,” said Vaibhav’s younger brother Ashirwad, who dreams of becoming an all-rounder.
Vaibhav, a Class 8 student at Modesty School in Tajpur, prioritised cricket over academics at his father’s urging. He would get up early for home tuition from 5 to 6 am, then head to his backyard pitch or the Patna academy by 6:30 am.
“My brother believed that expecting Vaibhav to excel in both studies and sport was unfair,” Rajeev said. “His focus was always on Vaibhav’s cricket.”
The young player proved his merit and potential. At 12, he blazed 400 runs in five matches for Bihar in the 2023 Vinoo Mankad Trophy. “BCA president Rakesh Tiwary recognised his potential and gave him opportunities,” Rajeev said.
In January 2024, he debuted for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy against at 12 years and 284 days, the fourth-youngest Indian in first-class cricket. By September, he had smashed a 58-ball century for India U-19 against Australia U-19, the fastest by an Indian in youth Tests. At the 2024 ACC U-19 Asia Cup, he scored 76 against UAE and 67 in the semi-final against Sri Lanka.
At 13, Vaibhav became the youngest player shortlisted for the 2025 IPL auction, and was secured by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.1 crore after also went for him.
“They both had called him for trials and were impressed by his performance,” Rajeev said.
Vaibhav’s family stressed that the BCA’s support was pivotal in his journey.
“Other Bihar players like Ishan Kishan had to go to other states to get noticed, but my brother was adamant that Vaibhav would shine from Bihar,” Rajeev said. “Many advised him to send Vaibhav to Delhi, or Mumbai, saying that Bihar has no opportunities for cricket talent, but he wanted Vaibhav to be a Bihar cricketer.”
