Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives orders to stay away from..

Former Team India opener Shikhar Dhawan has showered praise on 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his remarkable performances in the IPL 2025 season. However, Dhawan also warned of bigger challenges ahead for the left-handed batter, especially in handling fame and expectations in the future.

Suryavanshi, who grabbed attention with his explosive performances during the IPL 2025 season, impressed during India's ongoing U19 ODI tour of England. The left-hander, who represented the Rajasthan Royals (RR), became the youngest player to score a century in Indian Premier League history.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Stood Tall Against the Big Boys - Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi was confident against top international bowlers, calling it “unthinkable” for someone so young. He credited the IPL for allowing young talent to dream big from an early age.

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"How old is he, 13-14? (To play IPL) at the age of 14, is a very big thing. The way he was hitting the bowlers and standing in front of the big boys of world cricket at such a young age is remarkable. When I look at his confidence while hitting the big shots... it's amazing," Dhawan told Hindustan Times.

"Thanks to IPL, our kids can now dream of getting into a big team from the age of 5. Vaibhav manifested that dream. He is there. A big congratulations to him and his family. A very proud moment for all of us in cricket. A 14-year-old kid playing a big league like that and dominating is unthinkable," he added.

How He Is Gonna Handle the Fame, the Money - Shikhar Dhawan on Vaibhav Suryavanshi

However, Dhawan emphasized that handling fame, pressure, and rising expectations will be crucial in the next phase of Vaibhav’s career. The former Indian batter drew from his own experience, adding that Vaibhav needs to stay grounded amid rising expectations.

"For him, the challenge is going to be how he is gonna handle the fame, the attention, and the money as well. A blessing that happened to him is that he was in great hands... Rahul Bhai, Vikram Paji (coaches of Rajasthan Royals). They are very very good cricketers, they don't just believe in making good cricketers but good human beings as well. It's very important to be a good human being."

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Misses Rishabh Pant’s Record by a Whisker

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed a 35-ball century – the fastest by an Indian and the youngest ever in IPL history. He took apart international bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, and Prasidh Krishna. Vaibhav scored 252 runs in just 7 matches at a staggering strike rate of 206.56, including 24 sixes.

The left-handed batter has recorded scores of 86, 45, and 48 in the first three Youth ODIs. He narrowly missed Rishabh Pant’s record for the fastest U19 fifty in the third match. India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with two games still to play.

Even before his IPL debut, Vaibhav had impressed selectors with a 58-ball century against Australia in a U19 four-day match, which helped him earn a contract with the Rajasthan Royals.

Also read: Watch: Ben Stokes bags first-ever golden duck in Tests as Mohammed Siraj stuns England captain