Vaibhav Suryavanshi sacrifices pizza and mutton ahead of IPL 2025 debut, stuns with fearless knock at 14

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old prodigy from Bihar, made headlines on Saturday. He has a sensational debut for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Playing against Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, the teenage sensation became the youngest player ever to appear in the IPL, and he marked the occasion in style.

Entering as an Impact Player, Vaibhav showed nerves of steel when he smashed the first ball he faced—delivered by seasoned pacer Shardul Thakur—for a six over covers. He followed that up with a brisk 20-ball 34 and stitched an 85-run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, setting the tone for the Royals’ innings and winning the hearts of fans and former players alike.

Royals bet big on teen talent

The Rajasthan Royals had raised eyebrows last November when they shelled out INR 1.1 crore for Vaibhav in the IPL 2025 mega auction. His hundred in a U19 Test match against Australia—where he scored 100 off just 58 balls—caught the attention of scouts and franchise coaches. Earlier this week, the Royals even teased his inclusion by releasing a video of the youngster fearlessly facing Jofra Archer in the nets.

Strict diet behind the dream

Vaibhav’s coach, Manish Ojha, revealed the sacrifices the teenager made in the lead-up to his IPL debut. Speaking to the Times of India, Ojha said, “Mutton nahi khana hai usko, instructions hain. Pizza hata diya hai uske diet chart mein se (Mutton is not allowed. Pizza has been removed from his diet chart). He is just fond of chicken and mutton. He is a kid, so he used to love pizza a lot. But he doesn’t eat it anymore.”

Ojha recalled that Vaibhav had a huge appetite for mutton and would often polish off everything served to him. “That’s why he still looks a bit chubby,” Ojha joked, adding that the dietary discipline and fitness work have played a crucial role in his rapid rise.

‘A mix of Yuvraj and Lara’

While comparing young Vaibhav to cricketing greats, Ojha didn’t hold back. “He will go a long way. The way he started his innings was fearless. He admires Brian Lara, but I see him as a mix of Lara and Yuvraj Singh. His aggression is just like Yuvraj’s,” he said.

Dravid delivered debut news

According to Ojha, Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid personally informed Vaibhav about his debut on the eve of the match. “He called me and said Dravid sir and the management had told him he would be playing against Lucknow. He was very excited but also nervous,” Ojha shared. “I told him to stay calm and play his natural game. He replied, ‘Chakke wala ball ayega toh marunga, rukunga nehi’ (If the ball is there to be hit, I’ll go for the six. I won’t hold back).”

Instant impact on IPL 2025

Suryavanshi’s fearless approach and aggressive intent impressed not just fans but experts as well. With his name already trending across cricketing platforms, the teenage batter is likely to feature in more games this season. His form could provide a major boost to the Rajasthan Royals as they push for a playoff spot.

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