Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour hinted that Vaibhav Suryavanshi might not play in IPL 2025, as his selection will depend on team strategy, pitch conditions, and opposition.
Rajasthan Royals have shared an update on Vaibhav Suryavanshi as IPL 2025 nears. The 13-year-old made history last year as the youngest-ever IPL auction signing, with RR acquiring him for INR 1.10 crore. His performances since then have heightened expectations. He made a List A fifty for Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, smashed a century against Australia in youth Test cricket, and played a key role in India’s U19 Asia Cup campaign.
Despite his rapid rise, RR’s coaching staff remains unsure about his immediate debut. Batting coach Vikram Rathour highlighted that selection would depend on strategy, conditions, and opposition.
“I am not sure if we will use him or not, it will depend on the strategy, the surface, and the opposition. We acquired his services because he is a very special player. He has a lot of ability, he may be young but I have hardly ever seen a player this young to possess the power he has. The signs are great and if he works hard I am sure he will be a big player,” Hindustan Times quoted Rathour as saying.
Notably, Vikram Rathour has reunited with head coach Rahul Dravid. Rathour, who joined RR in September 2024, previously worked with Dravid when India dominated international cricket and secured the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title.
Reflecting on their collaboration, Rathour expressed confidence in continuing their effective coaching dynamic. He noted that while the IPL is a shorter competition, the approach remains the same—guiding players, refining techniques, and maximizing performance.
“There won’t be much difference. We have worked together before, he is a brilliant coach. I really enjoyed my tenure with him. When we were in the Indian team we were fortunate enough to win the World Cup. Otherwise, there’s not much difference, the IPL is a shorter tournament and Indian cricket is year-long,” he said.
“The good thing is that you get to work with the same bunch of players, we might have the same players for up to three years. In the Indian team you have different batters across formats. As far as coaching is concerned, it’s about helping the team, supporting the batters, guiding them somehow and getting the best performance out of them,” Rathour added.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals won their first and only IPL title in 2008 but have struggled to replicate that success since. They finished third in IPL 2024 and will aim to go even further this season. RR will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, March 23, at SRH’s home ground.
