How Legends VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid Shaped Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Career?- EXPLAINED

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi's stunning rise to IPL stardom is a story of raw talent polished under the watchful eyes of two Indian cricket legends - VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid.

On April 28, the 14-year-old made history by becoming the youngest cricketer ever to score a century in the IPL - and across all formats of the game - with a sensational knock in just 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans, securing his place in the record books.

It all began during a BCCI Under-19 Challenger Trophy tournament. Among many young aspirants, it was Suryavanshi's natural flair that caught Laxman's attention. Impressed by the youngster's composure and strokeplay, Laxman handpicked him for India's Under-19 Quadrangular series against England and Bangladesh.

But Vaibhav's journey wasn't free from self-doubt. In one of the matches for India B, he was run out for 36 - a modest score that left him devastated. Inside the dressing room, he broke down, overwhelmed by the fear of letting an opportunity slip away.

"In one of the games, Vaibhav was run out for 36. So, he started crying in the dressing room. When Laxman saw this, he came to him and said, 'We don't only see the runs here. We see people who have the skill for the long run.' Laxman saw his potential very quickly. The BCCI has backed him too," Vaibhav's coach, Manoj Ojha said in an interaction with Sportstar.

It was a pivotal moment. Laxman's words not only calmed the teenager but planted in him a belief that his journey would be judged on more than just immediate numbers - it would be about potential, resilience, and growth.

Recognizing that the environment in Bihar wasn't conducive for nurturing a cricketer of Vaibhav's promise, Manoj Ojha and Laxman looked for ways to give him better exposure. Ojha did not mince words when speaking to The Indian Express about the challenges back home.

"Bihar is not ideal for aspiring cricketers. No one cares. The BCCI has stopped caring about it as well. It's becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day," he said.

"As a coach, I want him to leave Bihar immediately to play for another state. I want top Ranji teams to offer him a chance, and he must accept it. He should play for a state where he can be nurtured and where he would be well-supported," Ojha added.

Laxman's next big step was introducing Vaibhav to Rahul Dravid, the Rajasthan Royals' head coach and a master in nurturing young talent. Dravid took the teenager under his wing, but true to his philosophy, he chose to let Vaibhav settle and soak in the professional environment before throwing him into the deep end.

"He is training really well, and he looks like a really good and exciting talent but there are other equally good players as well and part of our responsibility is to groom him well, give him a little bit of time in the environment, let him get used to it and practice with the players, let him get a feel of the environment, all these are great experiences for him, rather than putting him straight in front of the crowd so it's a part of the process we follow in grooming a player and if an opportunity arises we won't be scared to play him if it is required," Dravid had explained back on March 30.

It was patience mixed with careful guidance - and on Monday night, it all came together. Given his chance, Vaibhav Suryavanshi announced himself in spectacular fashion, hammering a record-breaking century in the IPL, dismantling international stars like Mohammad Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar.

More than just a coming-of-age knock, it was a tribute to the quiet mentoring of Laxman and Dravid - two men who saw not just the player Vaibhav was, but the champion he could become.