Rajasthan Royals Prepare Vaibhav Suryavanshi for IPL Success Ahead of Mumbai Indians Clash
Rajasthan Royals Gear Up for Key Match Against Mumbai Indians
On May 1, Rajasthan Royals will face off against Mumbai Indians in Jaipur. Ahead of this crucial match, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed the media, sharing insights into the team's strategy to support 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi as he navigates the pressures of the IPL.
Earlier this week, Suryavanshi made headlines with an impressive 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans. However, Dravid revealed that the Royals had been preparing for his integration into the team long before this remarkable achievement.
Building Confidence and Comfort for Suryavanshi
"He's been very welcomed. One of the things we've tried to do is make him feel integrated well into this environment. Even after the auction, we had three to four short-duration camps every month leading into the tournament. Vaibhav was there at every one of those camps, getting to know the players and support staff," Dravid stated during an interview with Star Sports Press Room.
Dravid emphasized the importance of ensuring that Suryavanshi felt comfortable by the time the tournament commenced. The young player had already met all the Indian teammates, coaches, and support staff prior to the season, which helped ease any potential pressure.
“He’s a shy boy; he’ll take some time to open up, but he’s very comfortable here. At no stage does it feel like he’s intimidated or holding back. There’s been a bit of an effort gone into trying to ensure that he’s comfortable around the group,” Dravid remarked.
Encouraging Natural Play and Simplicity
Dravid highlighted that the Royals have intentionally kept their approach straightforward for Suryavanshi, allowing him to showcase his skills without unnecessary pressure.
“At this stage, you don’t want to really confuse him with too many things but just trying to allow him to keep it simple and really have some fun and enjoy his cricket,” he explained.
He praised Suryavanshi's innate talent, noting his impressive bat speed and ability to judge the ball's length effectively.
“He’s got real good bat speed. He’s obviously got a high back lift, that’s very obvious. A really good hand-eye coordination in terms of judgment of length… he’s very quick to pick up anything that’s fractionally short or really full,” Dravid added.
A Cautious Approach to Media Hype
Dravid clarified that Suryavanshi's selection was based on more than just his age.
“Vaibhav wasn’t picked just because he’s young. We felt that with a bit of work, he could succeed at this level,” he stated.
He also mentioned other players like Shubham Dubey and Ashutosh Sharma, who earned their places later in their careers due to their readiness and experience.
As excitement grows around Suryavanshi, Dravid called for patience from fans and the media.
“We can’t control how much people are going to talk about him or what the media writes about him… but let’s be realistic, he’s going to go through some ups and downs. We’re also going to have to be mindful that he’s a young man finding his way,” Dravid cautioned.
Suryavanshi's recent century has kept RR in contention for the playoffs, currently sitting in 8th place with three wins and seven losses. The young talent has amassed 151 runs in three matches, boasting a strike rate of 215.71.