New Delhi: The “Bihar is not for beginners” meme remains a popular trend on social media. Be it stolen bridges, elections in Bihar, politicians in Bihar or even dialect. On Friday, Vaibhav, who hails from Samastipur in Bihar, not only silenced his critics but also showed the world that he is indeed special and this is just the beginning.
“When Vaibhav called, I couldn’t help but shed tears,” Sanjeev told TOI in Samastipur, a lump in his throat.
“He jumped with joy along with the other boys. I told him I would talk to him later because it was an unforgettable moment. After this, he will not be able to play in the under-19s. He should enjoy this moment,” he added.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 15 sixes and 15 fours at a strike rate of 218.75 against England in the U-19 World Cup final at Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Friday. He scored 24 off the first 24 balls, meaning he had just 56 deliveries in his final 151 runs. His knock proved to make a difference as India beat England by 100 runs to win the title for a record sixth time.
“Abi Toh Shuruat Hai, Abi Bahout Og Jana Hai (This is just the beginning, there is much more to achieve). Jab tak Test na khele, kya bada cricketer (I wouldn’t have considered him a great cricketer until he didn’t play Tests),” said Sanjeev, who has set lofty goals for his son.
In Patna, Vaibhav’s coach Manish Ojha’s phone was buzzing with messages of congratulations and strange requests: “Sir, mera beta do saal ka hai, usko cricketer Vaibhav bana dijiye (My son is two years old, let him be like Vaibhav). “
“Absolute madness, ho rakha hai. That’s what I got. Vaibhav brought a sports revolution in Bihar. Now people will let their children play sports,” Ojha said, quoting a local proverb that later became a song in the MS Dhoni biopic: “Pahog Lihog Banog Nawab, Kolog Kudog Banog Karab (If you study, you will be noble; if you only play, you will be ruined).
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Trendsetter
Vaibhav’s rise is certainly what Bihar needs. In cricket, Vaibhav has become a trendsetter in cricket and as Ojha puts it, “He is not a player who believes in singles or doubles. His belief system, his instincts, tell him only one thing: give it your all. He believes in complete dominance.”
Not to forget, Vaibhav comes from a country that has always set trends. What British boys got a taste of in Harare on Friday was that the foundations of the British Empire were shaken in 1917 when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Chaparan Satyagraha against the Tinkatiya system. Fast forward to 1974, socialist Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as JP, issued a call for Sampoorna Kranti (total revolution) that changed the discourse in India.
Cut to now, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is setting a new trend with his brilliant batting prowess.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s statistics in the U-19 World Cup final:
🔴Sooryavanshi’s innings takes his tally to 439 runs in seven innings at an average of 62.71, second only to Mayers (74 runs, 444 runs).
🔴This is the highest score in an U-19 World Cup final, surpassing Unmukt Chand’s unbeaten 111 when India faced Australia in the 2012 final.
🔴The knock was the ninth-highest score in youth ODI history. South Africa’s Jorich van Schalkwyk (215 vs Zimbabwe) remains the only player to score a double century.
🔴Overall, it ranks sixth in U-19 World Cup history.
🔴Sooryavanshi hit a record 15 sixes in a junior ODI innings, surpassing the previous record of 14 sixes he had set against the UAE in the U-19 Asia Cup last year.
🔴His 15 sixes are the most in a single innings at the Under-19 World Cup, with only two other players hitting double-digit sixes.
🔴The 55-goal century is the second-fastest century at the Under-19 World Cup, behind Will Malajczuk’s 51-goal century for Australia against Japan earlier in the tournament.
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slow start
Before the semi-finals and finals, Vaibhav’s scores were 72 (67), 40 (23), 52 (23), and 30 (22) respectively. He got the start but couldn’t convert it into a big score.
“Cricket is a great equalizer. 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 had a plan. They too worked as hard and committed as Vaibhav did),” said Vaibhav’s father.
In the semi-finals, his 68 off 33 balls helped India equal Afghanistan’s 311 in 41.1 overs.
After the knock, the 14-year-old gained some confidence and called his dad for the first time during the game.
“He wouldn’t talk to me until he scored a big score. He only spoke to me after a good performance in the semi-finals,” Sanjeev shared.
“He said, ‘Dad, I’m starting, but I can’t change it. Har jagah shatak lagaye, yes tournament mein abhi tak nahi aaya (I have been fighting for centuries everywhere, but it has not come here yet),” Sanjeev recalled of the conversation.
“I consoled him and although I was also a bit impatient, I told him that his early blitzes were helping the team win the game. Just play like this and leave the rest to God. He was happy and relaxed and dad was not angry. Half an hour later he called me again. He will not call me twice. I told him again to play according to his nature,” he added.
Vaibhav does play according to his nature. Just ask Thomas Lu’s kids, they’re looking down on their luck on the ground.
“Look, I can’t say the game didn’t go well. You can say there weren’t too many big scores,” Vaibhav’s coach said.
“Waibhav has set such a high benchmark for himself that even 50 or 60 doesn’t feel like it means anything anymore. If you look closely, he scored 72 against Bangladesh, which was a match-winning performance. Against Afghanistan in the semi-final, he scored 68 in the first 10 overs, setting the tone for India’s chase of 300-plus runs.
“What is missing is a good performance. But that comes with a player like Vaibhav. The day he comes on, no one can stop him. Failures and unsuccessful starts are part of it. Because when he finds his rhythm and gives it his all, everything becomes easier for him and the team,” he added.
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What’s next for Vaibhav?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a splash when he hit his maiden six in the IPL in April last year. He soon became the youngest centurion in the men’s T20 sport, scoring a 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, the second-fastest IPL century after Chris Gayle’s 30 in 2013.
In July 2025, he set the record for the fastest youth ODI century at the time, hitting triple figures in 52 balls and 143 off 78 balls against England in Worcester. Four months later, he scored a 32-ball hundred for India A against the UAE in the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup, finishing with 144 off 42 balls.
Sanjeev has just one piece of advice for his son, who many predict could become India’s youngest international cricketer after the ongoing T20 World Cup.
“I kept telling him, Jitna acha khlo utna shi hook ke rajo (The better you play, the more humble you should be). Continue talking to your seniors and coaches and ask them where you can improve. Yes, you scored a great century in the U-19 World Cup final, but that is in the past. The aim is to play Test cricket for India.
“I gave him Sachin Tendulkar’s recommendation. He scored so many runs and there was never any controversy around him. The cricketing world adored him,” Sanjeev said.
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Coach Manish hopes his ward will now dominate the Ranji Trophy.
“Bihar has entered the Elite Series this year. BCCI has a plan for him too. But his real test will be the red ball. I am sure he will wipe out the bowlers there as well,” Manish said with a smile.
