Vaibhav Suryavanshi can't defend: Ex-CSK star exposes RR youngster's biggest weakness

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund was left stunned by the unconventional technique of Rajasthan Royals’ young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

While most batters are taught to grip the bat in the traditional V shape, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has tossed the textbook aside and does it his own way, and that is completely opposite to the norm, as beautifully explained by Abhinav Mukund.

The cricket expert said that the 14-year-old batting sensation can’t defend the ball, as he was discussing Vaibhav’s two-ball duck against the Mumbai Indians in the Rajasthan Royals’ 100-run loss to the five-time champions in their previous IPL 2025 clash in Jaipur.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s wild batting grip shocks Abhinav Mukund

The left-handed batter took the IPL by storm with his 35-ball century, but except for this 101-run knock, the Rajasthan Royals opener could manage only 50 runs in the remaining four games, which raised questions about his technique.

Read Also: Watch: Yudhvir Singh takes sweet revenge by dismissing Sunil Narine after back-to-back boundaries

Abhinav Mukund said on ESPNCricinfo: “What they taught us was essentially to hold the bat together, and even if you ask anyone, the bat handle, it'll be a V, right? All of us used to hold the bat this way. Vaibhav holds the bat just opposite the traditional way. He is very young. But the V, the traditional grip, is that. That's your V, if you can see (shows how to take the bat).”

Furthermore, Mukund pointed out Vaibhav’s bizarre yet effective shot-making. Instead of the usual upward backlift, Vaibhav’s swing looks like a pulley in motion—down first, then up—making it nearly impossible to play a defensive shot.

There's no way Vaibhav Suryavanshi can defend a ball: Abhinav Mukund

In fact, the moment the ball lands, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's bat is already in full swing, launching brutal hits and smashing bowlers without mercy, but that won’t work all the time.

He explained, “And Vaibhav holds his bat like this, and the way he's reacting to the ball, he's almost got a downswing first, and then it goes up. And the ball has already landed. The ball's almost on its way there, and he's going down and coming back up. And it's almost like a lever pulley motion where he's just going down and then up. So, there's no way he can defend a ball.”

Read Also: Watch: Kunal Singh Rathore leaves field with a bleeding hand on RR debut in IPL 2025

'These boys are not wired to defend the ball'

The cricket expert said that the young guns like Vaibhav and Priyansh Arya of Punjab Kings are just wired to attack, saying they can’t defend the ball. However, Mukund admitted that the new breed of fearless hitters is rewriting the rulebook on batting, but it is too risky.

Mukund signed off by saying, “These boys are not wired to defend the ball. Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi. These boys are actually going up and smacking the living daylights out of a cricket ball.”

I won't lie but it's been a while since I've heard such a perfect explanation.👏 pic.twitter.com/OTGapvAV4z

— OM. (@Badpatch18) May 3, 2025

Notably, the Rajasthan Royals are currently facing the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 53rd match of the ongoing IPL 2025 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, April 4. The RR is already out of the playoffs race, having lost eight of their 11 games so far in the tournament.