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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi says his father’s strict discipline since childhood helped him shut out noise and stay focused, something he now clearly sees paying off on the field.
News18
Vaiabhav Sooryavanshi has credited his father, Sanjeev, for his ability to always shut the outside noise and keep the focus on his cricket. The 14-year-old sensation, speaking after scoring a stunning 42-ball 144 against the UAE in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars on Friday, said that he initially used to wonder why his father was so strict, adding that now he ‘can see its benefits on the ground’.
In only his first T20 for India ‘A’, the left-handed batter hammered 11 fours and 15 sixes. He completed his half-century in only 17 balls and needed only 15 more to reach the triple-digit mark, becoming the first-ever batter to score a century in a T20 match for India A. The century in 32 balls made him the joint fourth-fastest batter in the world to reach the milestone in a T20 match.
“My father, actually,” Sooryavanshi said when asked who he’d give credit to for his razor-sharp focus. “Because he has been strict with me since childhood. Pehle mai sochta tha kya papa itna strict rakhte hai (Earlier, I used to wonder why he is so strict?). But now, I can see its benefits on the ground. He didn’t let me get distracted. He kept my focus on cricket. He made sure that I worked hard.”
Sooryavanshi had his luck, getting dropped on his first ball, and being on the right end of a run-out with his partner, Priyansh Arya. But it only made him more determined to continue.
“It’s my natural game and it’s the T20 format, so, I had to back my own game,” Sooryavanshi said. “I was dropped on the first ball, but I didn’t want to change my intent. I wanted a big score on this ground because the wicket was good and the boundary was small. So, I was trying to back my shots.”
Sooryavanshi said he’s neither deterred by the steepness of his rise nor by the fanfare that he has already gathered.
“It’s a journey,” he said. “When I look back at my past, I wonder where I was playing and where I am now. I am grateful for these chances. It feels good too. The fans are there to support me. When I am on the ground, I don’t think about anything else. I just focus on the ball.”
November 14, 2025, 19:41 IST
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