IPL 2025: Vaibhav Suryavanshi was not signed for Age: Rahul Dravid reveals Exact Reason and is 'Amazed' by RR youngster

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Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid has lavished praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, whose explosive entry into IPL 2025 has caught the cricketing world by surprise.

The 14-year-old has stunned fans and opponents alike with his maturity and confidence, and Dravid believes the youngster's fearless approach is what truly sets him apart.

Speaking after Suryavanshi's record-breaking performances, Dravid highlighted the rare qualities the southpaw possesses at such a tender age.

"For me, it's really his fearlessness and the way he doesn't get fazed by the occasion or the pressure around him, that's something truly special," Dravid said at the Star Sports Press Room.

According to the Royals' coach, Suryavanshi's expansive shot-making abilities and rapid judgment of length are already at a high level. Dravid noted the youngster's "remarkable range of shots" and lauded his natural bat speed and hand-eye coordination treats that make him a potent threat even against seasoned bowlers.

Dravid made it clear that Suryavanshi was not drafted into the squad just for his age or potential, but because the Royals' coaching team genuinely believed he could make a difference.

"Vaibhav has a really good bat speed, back lift and hand-eye coordination to judge length and that amazes me. He is very quick to pick up length, anything short or over pitched, he has the natural ability to pick that. Vaibhav wasn't picked because he was young, because we felt, with a little bit of work, he could do well in the tournament," he added.

The former India captain also opened up on Rajasthan Royals' broader philosophy of nurturing Indian youth, which shaped their roster strategy this season. With stalwarts like Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal forming a strong homegrown core, Dravid acknowledged that the franchise had to compromise slightly on overseas picks. They retained Shimron Hetmyer for a defined finishing role, given the Indian contingent's dominance at the top of the order.

Rajasthan Royals, under Dravid's watchful eye, seem to be building a team not just for this season-but for the future of Indian cricket. They are still in the IPL 2025 playoff race and now take on Mumbai Indians in a crucial encounter on Thursday, which will also be a Pink Promise Match for the Royals.