Rahul Dravid on Vaibhav Suryavanshi's evolution: 'Exciting and challenging'

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has dominated headlines from India to USA for his blistering 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans. The 14-year-old's smashing effort saw him become the youngest IPL centurion and to add to it, he also became the fastest Indian to an IPL century.
Rahul Dravid, the current Royals head coach, is getting a first-hand look at Suryavanshi's development. While the adulation, from different spheres, is much-deserved, it comes with its own level of caution in managing the teenager, stated the former India coach.
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“What can we do for Vaibhav? I think it's going to be challenging. Right just from this very interview I've come, every single question I've been asked has been about Vaibhav, right? So, I mean, it's exactly the thoughts that it's going on in the top of my head that this is going to be challenging for him and for the kid,” said the RR coach during a Star Sports Press Room on Wednesday.

“I mean, it's going to be challenging. But it's also exciting. I think it's going to be exciting as well as it's going to be challenging. I think, again, I would love to say that, maybe we should not shower him with that much attention and that much focus. But maybe I'm being naïve and maybe I'm not being realistic because maybe that is going to happen.”

“So like I said and answered earlier, maybe it's just a question of putting a bit of a support system around him and trying to help him navigate that as best as he possibly can,” added Dravid.
Dravid acknowledged that it won't be easy for Vaibhav to shy away from the limelight following his heroics despite having played only three IPL matches.

"Recognising that it happens and putting a certain level of support around that and navigate that attention and allow him space to be a youngster. It is part of being a cricketer in this country, it is impossible to distance yourself from and (you tend to get) sucked into it," said the Indian legend.
As the India U-19 coach, Dravid has seen multiple talents come through the system such as Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Yashasvi Jaiswal and many more. Asked about Suryavanshi, Dravid explained what makes him special.

"For me it is really the ability to have that level of fearlessness and not get fazed by the occasion. You don't get to see that with people that young. The range of shots he showed.
"He is only going to get better. Nobody is saying that he is a finished article. No one should rush to call him somebody he is not. Teams will be smarter against him. T20 format is such where he will have games where it will not work out," he cautioned.
An aspect that has stood out for the youngster is his ability to go for sixes. He cleared the boundary rope 11 times in his 35-ball hundred against GT.
"What gives him power is a good bat speed, high backlift, hand-eye coordination. His judgment of length is something that has amazed me, whether it is fractionally short or full, he can capitalise on that. His natural strength is helpful in this situation," said the Indian great.

In a video clip, Suryavanshi was shown praising Dravid for making him a better cricketer over the past three months. In his typical mannerisms, Dravid played down the role played by him in his rise and put the credit squarely on the kid from Samastipur.
"The biggest credit goes to him. It would be wrong of me to take credit for him. He has come through a system (having played first class and India U19.
"His father has been supportive. Here in Rajasthan Royals, so many people have been involved...he will be asked Dravid questions and he has to give a diplomatic answer," the former India captain said with a smile.
"We try to keep it simple with him. For us, it is important that he plays the kind of cricket he enjoys playing...It is pretty obvious he likes to play attacking brand of cricket. We picked him not keeping his age in mind, we were convinced of his talent," he added.