NEW DELHI: The Sooryavanshi household in Motipur village of Tajpur, Samastipur (Bihar), already has one cricketing sensation in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Now, another youngster from the family is beginning to attract attention – 10-year-old Ashirvad Sooryavanshi.Vaibhav’s younger brother has already offered a glimpse of what may lie ahead. In his very first match for Cricket Academy Tajpur, Ashirvad, who started playing cricket only six months ago, smashed 103 runs off just 87 balls in a practice match. His innings was studded with 20 fours and a six.The knock may have happened in local cricket, but it quickly reached a much wider audience after Vaibhav, currently representing India A in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, shared a screenshot of his younger brother’s scorecard on social media.The post instantly drew attention to the 10-year-old and sparked curiosity about another budding cricketer from the Sooryavanshi household.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Post (Photo: Special Arrangement)
ONLY SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING
What makes Ashirvad’s century remarkable is that he has been playing cricket for only six months. The youngster adapted quickly to the game and wasted little time in making an impression.“Ashirvad abhi 6 mahina pehle to start hi kiya hai. Bat handling, grip karna jaldi seekh gaya (Ashirvad only started playing cricket six months ago, but he quickly learnt the basics of bat handling and grip),” Chandra Deep, Ashirvad’s coach and the man who runs Cricket Academy Tajpur, told TimesofIndia. com in an interview.The coach believes the younger Sooryavanshi is showing signs of following a similar path to his elder brother.
“Wo kahawat ki bade miyaan to bade miyaan, chhote miyaan subhanallah. Bas wahi samajh lijiye. Dono bhai, dono tabaahi”
Chandra Deep, Ashirvad’s coach
SAME GROUND, SAME DREAM
Ashirvad’s cricketing journey has begun at the very same place where Vaibhav’s dreams first took shape.Just behind the family’s house are two practice pitches – one cemented and one made of soil. It was on these surfaces that Vaibhav spent countless hours honing his skills as a child. Today, Ashirvad trains on the same ground, following a familiar path.
(Photo: Special Arrangement)
According to coach Chandra Deep, the contrasting surfaces provide very different challenges and played a key role in shaping Vaibhav’s game. Now, the younger brother is undergoing the same grind.“The cemented pitch offers more pace. On the soil pitch, the ball swings, turns and spins, but it also holds up a lot, making batting much tougher. Vaibhav practised on these surfaces from a very young age, and now Ashirvad is doing the same),” he said.
NOT A COPY OF VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI
Comparisons between the two brothers are inevitable, but Ashirvad is far from being a mirror image of Vaibhav.While Vaibhav is a left-handed batter who can bowl spin, Ashirvad is a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium pacer. In fact, the youngster sees himself as an all-rounder.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ashirvad Sooryavanshi (Photo: Special Arrangement)
Asked if Ashirvad reminds him of any current cricketer, the coach came up with an interesting comparison.
“Vaibhav was gifted with bat swing. But Ashirvad chose his own way. We once asked him what he wanted to become and he said an all-rounder. Hardik Pandya jaisa dikhta hai ye. Batting mein bhi hai. Bowling mein bhi”
Chandra Deep
LEARNING BY WATCHING HIS ELDER BROTHER
Ashirvad has spent hours watching Vaibhav train. Whether at home or during practice sessions, he closely observed his elder brother and gradually developed an interest in cricket.According to Chandra Deep, Ashirvad is a quiet child who prefers focusing on his game rather than talking too much.
“He says, ‘I want to play like my brother and work just as hard.’ Vaibhav has inspired him a lot”
Chandra Deep
Perhaps nobody celebrates Vaibhav’s success more passionately than Ashirvad. During Vaibhav’s magnificent IPL 2026 season, where he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, and durng his exploits at the Under-19 World Cup, the younger brother would burst crackers in celebration back home.Whenever Vaibhav’s matches are on television, Ashirvad makes sure he is glued to the screen.
COVER DRIVES AND LOVE FOR FISH
Like most young cricketers, Ashirvad has a favourite shot – the cover drive. His daily routine revolves around cricket, with physical training in the morning followed by long batting sessions.And when cricket is over, there is one thing he enjoys more than anything else – fish.Much like their cricket, the two brothers differ in their food choices too. While Vaibhav was known for his love of mutton growing up, Ashirvad can’t do without fish.“Machhli isko bahut pasand hai. Isko khane ke saath chahiye,” the coach said.
Ashirvad Sooryavanshi coach (Photo: Special Arrangement)
EAGER TO WATCH HIS BROTHER SCORE A CENTURY
With Vaibhav already earning selection in India’s T20I squad for the England and Ireland tour and the Asian Games team – becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat – the spotlight is slowly beginning to turn towards his younger brother.But for now, Ashirvad is simply a 10-year-old who loves watching his elder brother bat.
Ashirvad Sooryavanshi (Photo: Special Arrangement)
With the family set to travel to the United Kingdom, the youngster can barely contain his excitement. More than anything else, he wants to see Vaibhav score a century in person.“Ye UK jaa raha hai family ke saath, bahot khush hai. Kehta hai bhaiya ko century maarte hue dekhna hai,” the coach signed off.For the Sooryavanshis, the dream that started on two modest pitches behind their home may just be beginning its second chapter.
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