Vaibhav

It means grandeur, glory, magnificence, wealth or prosperity. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become a metaphor of the game getting younger, poster boy of a brave new world of cricket!

The Indian Express reports’ even as young men of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s age are content scoring hundreds in their neighborhood gullies, the 14 year old smashed a 35 ball century on the grand stage of the Indian Premiere League.

Only a teenager, mind uncluttered by the pressure of expectations & unshackled by the game’s conventions, could have imagined & then composed this shuddering stroke play. It may be that Suryavanshi himself would fail to reproduce this effort. What is certain is that his life & career will never be the same again.

Born in the cricketing backwater of Tajpur in Samastipur district of Bihar, which has multiple cricketing associations feuding for power. His father sold his farmland to nurture his son’s ambitions. He made such rapid progress that his first class debut came at 12.

This is not the time to wonder where destiny will eventually lead him- to the summit of glory or the valley of unfulfilled renown. It is time to marvel at his wonderous gifts, of both mind & bat.

Not every boy can be ‘Vaibhav; because he is unique. His aspirations fueled by his parents & his grit is difficult to emulate.

Let’s rejoice today & bask in the glory!