NEW DELHI: Long before batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was born, his father Sanjeev Sooryavanshi inherited a piece of ancestral land in Bihar. It was not just property but a symbol of roots and memories. In most Indian villages, land is far more than an asset. No matter how difficult life becomes, selling property, especially ancestral land, is not something many consider. But for Sanjeev, nothing was more valuable than his son's dream, not even the land inherited from his forefathers.
When Vaibhav's cricket journey demanded sacrifices, Sanjeev made the toughest decision of his life. He sold the ancestral land. Years have passed, and today that dream stands fulfilled.
"Now everything has gone beyond that. The dream has come true. Land and money don't matter anymore. The respect and recognition that he is getting in India and abroad make us very happy," Sanjeev told TimesofIndia.com.
At just 15, Vaibhav has already carved a place for himself in Indian cricket. He is an IPL superstar, a key architect of India's Under-19 World Cup triumph in 2026, and now a member of the senior Indian team. The teenage sensation was named in India's squad for the T20I series against Ireland and England, becoming the youngest player ever selected for the national side.
Record-Breaking IPL Campaign
The call-up came on the back of a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign. Vaibhav finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 776 runs, winning the Orange Cap. He smashed one century and five half-centuries at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30. His extraordinary season also earned him five major awards: Emerging Player of the Season, Most Valuable Player, Orange Cap, Best Strike Rate of the Season, and Most Sixes.
For Sanjeev, however, the numbers and awards are secondary. The land may be gone, but it has been replaced by something far more precious: pride, respect, and the fulfilment of a father's biggest dream: watching his son wear the India jersey.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The Journey
The journey began when Vaibhav was just four years old. Sanjeev noticed his son striking a plastic ball with unusual timing and power. What started with plastic and tennis balls soon evolved into professional coaching at an academy in Patna. The 90-kilometre journey from Samastipur to Patna was exhausting and expensive, but Sanjeev never allowed challenges to stand in the way. He even bought a car to ferry his son to training sessions on alternate days, a purchase made possible through the money generated from the sale of the ancestral land.
Today, as he stands on the verge of seeing his son represent India, Sanjeev has no second thoughts about the sacrifice.
"I have no regrets. Whatever Vaibhav is achieving is far greater than anything else," he said. "The boy has worked very hard since childhood. He has worked with the dream of playing for the country. Today, he has got that opportunity."
The Nervous Moment
With the buzz around his son's India call-up, Sanjeev kept switching on the television and flipping through news channels. The butterflies, nervousness, and sweaty palms were all there. But as soon as the news broke, everything faded away, and what followed were celebrations, tears of joy, media queues, and relatives and neighbours rushing to congratulate the family at the Sooryavanshi residence.
"We are very happy. The entire family is happy. Our village is happy. The whole country is happy. For us, it feels like a dream," an elated Sanjeev said.
"When the news came, Vaibhav was practising in Sri Lanka. He called and said, 'Papa, I just came to know about the selection. I'll talk to you later.' Everyone there was congratulating him," the father added.
All Eyes on Vaibhav's 'Dream' Debut
With the IPL and Under-19 World Cup behind him, and with the India A tour underway, the big question now is whether Vaibhav will make his India debut on the tour of Ireland or England. The youngster stands on the verge of history. If he is picked in the playing XI, he will become India's youngest international cricketer, breaking the record currently held by legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar made his India debut at 16 years and 205 days during the 1989 tour of Pakistan. At just 15, Sooryavanshi now has a chance to rewrite history.
Sanjeev and his family are now getting ready to witness the big day: their son's potential debut in the UK. "Yes, we will go to the UK. We have received the documents from the BCCI. We are going to the UK," Sanjeev said. "Records may be broken, records may be made, but this is just the start. We will pray to God that he continues to play well and reaches that level."
