Vaibha Suryavanshi, who gained attention through explosive performances in T20 cricket, is now preparing for a challenge in the 'red ball' format. This young batsman, noted for his centuries in the IPL, will feature in the upcoming major tournament—the Duleep Trophy, which starts on August 23rd in Bangalore. To achieve this, Vaibha has begun making necessary adjustments to his game and is working on adapting to the demands of four-to-five-day cricket.
As part of this preparation, Vaibha invited his childhood coach, Manish Ojha, to the Rajasthan Royals academy located in Nagpur. Ojha conducted training sessions with Vaibha for about six days, focusing particularly on developing the mentality required for prolonged play.
Manish Ojha spoke to ABP News about Vaibha's preparation. He noted that while Vaibha possesses a distinct style in T20, the Indian team management is also considering his potential in the 'red ball' format. This is why he was selected for the Duleep Trophy squad and appointed as the zonal vice-captain.
According to Manish Ojha, the invitation did not come from Rajasthan Royals but personally from Vaibha Suryavanshi. Vaibha expressed a desire for his childhood coach to be invited from Patna to Nagpur to assist in preparing for the 'red ball' format. Ojha explained that this stems from long-standing friendships; since they worked together from childhood, Vaibha feels more comfortable around him. The coach, who has known the player since early years, understands his strengths and weaknesses well, which is evident in the case of Vaibha and Ojha.
During the training, the work focused not only on technique but also on the mentality for four-to-five-day matches. Primarily, he was taught how to structure the game throughout the day: how to play before lunch, how to manage the game from lunch to evening, and how to develop his innings in the final session of the day.
Ojha reported that the most significant change in red-ball cricket related to the mentality when choosing a shot. Initially, Vaibha became more cautious, fearing that he might have to completely abandon his natural shots for Test or First-Class cricket. However, the coach clearly clarified that playing red-ball cricket does not mean giving up his own shots. He was told to continue hitting his shots but to wait for the right ball. It is necessary to respect a good delivery, leave it if needed, and not be afraid to score runs when the bowler delivers an easy ball.
In Ojha's opinion, the main focus of Vaibha's preparation was on endurance, meaning the ability to stay on the field for a long time. He emphasized that in red-ball cricket, simply knowing how to hit shots is not enough; the ability to maintain concentration over a long period and adapt to match conditions is equally important. Therefore, Vaibha was mentally prepared to develop his innings session by session and maintain the mindset for playing up to 90 overs if necessary.
Manish Ojha also shared an interesting observation regarding changes in Vaibha's behavior after becoming a star. Despite becoming a 'Player of the Tournament' in Zimbabwe and debuting for India, Ojha noticed no significant changes in him. According to him, Vaibha is only 15 years old. He has played international cricket and established himself in the IPL, but by age, he is still a child. Ojha noted that a 15-year-old needs to be explained to and guided according to his age. When meeting Vaibha, he did not feel like he was facing some huge star player; he saw the same child who used to attend training at their academy.
When asked what big innings one could expect from Vaibha in the Duleep Trophy, his childhood coach made a very bold statement. Manish Ojha stated that if Vaibha can last for 90 overs, he is capable of scoring a triple century. In his view, Vaibha possesses the talent and strength to play at such a level. However, he added an important condition: Vaibha needs to show patience and not try to hit every ball in T20 style. He must respect the bowlers, leave good balls, and utilize the advantage when easy deliveries are bowled.
When asked about a gift Vaibha might bring his childhood coach after traveling to England and Zimbabwe, Manish Ojha replied that there is no greater gift for a teacher than what his student achieves by bringing glory to the country internationally. He mentioned that Vaibha receiving the 'Player of the Tournament' award during his visit to Zimbabwe...
