Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s IPL debut was nothing short of electric. The 14-year-old stepped onto the big stage and smashed the first ball he faced for a towering six. It was a moment that turned heads at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium and beyond. In a quickfire knock, Suryavanshi hammered 34 off just 20 deliveries, peppering the ground with two fours and three sixes. His fearless strokeplay against seasoned bowlers like Avesh Khan sparked excitement. Yet, former India coach Ravi Shastri had a different lens to view this young marvel. Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri lavished praise but struck a note of caution. Putting a check on his admiration, Shastri said, “I think the first shot he played, that would have taken everyone's breath away. But, he's young, so I would say just let him play a bit because it's at that age, there's bound to be failure as well. It's how he handles failure." Read also: WATCH: Dewald Brevis IPL 2025 entry goes viral New Challenges Await the Young Prodigy Shastri didn’t stop there. He warned that opponents would come armed with new plans. Short balls, fierce spells—nothing would be spared now. He added, “People will come up with new things. There'll be lots of short stuff thrown at him. When you tonk someone's first ball for six, then you show no mercy. Then you don't care whether he's 14 years old or 12 years old or 20 years old." The reality is already setting in for Rajasthan Royals. Despite the spark Suryavanshi offered, the team remains in troubled waters. With just four points and a string of five consecutive losses, RR sits at ninth on the table with a net run rate of -0.625. In two games so far, Suryavanshi has managed 50 runs at a strike rate of 156.25—a promising start, but consistency will be the real test. With Sanju Samson sidelined, opportunities are aplenty. But as Shastri rightly points out, it’s not the quick rise that defines a career—it’s how you survive the dips. For young Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the fairytale has just begun. Now, it’s about writing the chapters that truly matter.