Rajasthan Royals (RR) batting coach Vikram Rathour praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his “maturity and temperament” during Tuesday’s IPL 2025 clash against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Chasing 188 on a batting-friendly pitch, Suryavanshi had limited opportunities early on, facing just seven balls during the powerplay. However, once settled, he shifted gears confidently, reaching his half-century in just 27 deliveries.
He eventually made 57 off 33 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes, before falling to R Ashwin. Suryavanshi also shared a 98-run stand with skipper Sanju Samson, setting the foundation for RR’s convincing six-wicket victory.
“Very impressive. We’ve been working with him for quite some time now—maybe three to four months. We’ve seen all these aspects, but it’s great to see him doing that in a game, especially under pressure,” Rathour said in the post-match press conference.
“In a big game like today, the ball was moving when he went in. He hardly got any deliveries, wasn’t on strike much during the powerplay. But the maturity and temperament he showed were excellent. These kinds of experiences will definitely help him become a better player over time,” Rathour said.
‘Vaibhav Suryavanshi is very unique’
Rathour revealed that the Royals’ backend team had recommended Suryavanshi after the youngster impressed with a 104 off 62 balls for India U19 in a Youth Test against Australia last September at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
“Yes, there’s a team – a backend team – that monitors all the leagues, watches all kinds of cricket that people are playing. And they recommended him. Like, he scored that 100 against Australia in the U-19s, I think. So, the recommendation was made. And honestly, when I saw him for the first time, I was convinced.
“Just from that downswing of his bat – I think he’s very, very unique. I haven’t seen anything like that in a long, long time. And now he’s showing that he has the temperament as well. He’s going to be a very very special player,” Rathour added.
After becoming the youngest IPL debut and the youngest T20 centurion, Vaibhav finished his campaign with 252 runs from seven matches at an average of 36 and a strike-rate of 206.55.
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