Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag offered pointed advice to Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi following the team’s defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 42nd match of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) on Thursday.
The 14-year-old, who has grabbed headlines as the youngest player in IPL history, was cautioned by Sehwag to stay focused to secure his future.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already carved a niche for himself as the youngest-ever IPL player, signed by RR for a staggering INR 1.10 crore at the mega auction. His debut performance, a fearless 20-ball 34-run knock against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), sent ripples through the cricketing fraternity, and his latest outing against RCB further showcased his audacious talent.
Facing experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the youngster smashed two sixes before a slower delivery by the veteran ended his innings prematurely. Despite his modest 50 runs across two matches at a strike rate of 156.25, Suryavanshi’s talent at such a young age has marked him as a prodigy to watch.
However, Sehwag, known for his no-nonsense approach, asked Suryavanshi to stay grounded, urging him to not lose his focus amid the glitz and glamour of the IPL.
"If you step out knowing that you will get praised for doing well, and criticized for not doing well, you will remain grounded. I have seen many players who come, get fame from one or two matches, then they do not do anything, because they think that they have become a star player," Sehwag said as quoted on Cricbuzz.
Virender Sehwag Asks Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Follow Virat Kohli
Further, Sehwag cited Virat Kohli's example, stating that Suryanshi should emulate the senior pro, who is still going strong, having started playing the IPL in its inaugural season.
"Suryavanshi must aim for playing 20 years in the IPL. Look at Virat Kohli, he started playing when he was 19 years old, now he has played all 18 seasons. That is what he should be trying to emulate. But, if If he is happy with this IPL, thinking that he is now a crorepati, had a great debut, hit a six off the first ball, maybe we won't see him next year," Sehwag added.
RR is currently eighth on the IPL 2025 points table after five consecutive losses. They needed 18 runs off two overs to win against RCB but lost from the winning position, falling short by 11 runs.
Suryavanshi’s next chance to shine comes against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 28. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if the young star can build on his early promise and heed Sehwag’s advice.
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