What Vaibhav Suryavanshi did during visit to Lord’s

Dubai: From Kapil Dev’s iconic lift of the World Cup to Sourav Ganguly’s shirt-waving celebration, Lord’s has witnessed Indian cricket’s most unforgettable moments.

On a quiet tour day this week, another young Indian cricketer stood still at the Honours Board — Vaibhav Suryavanshi, eyes fixed on the names of Jasprit Bumrah and KL Rahul. One could sense the quiet ambition: a dream to someday see his name etched on that very wall.

For the India Under-19 squad, the post-match tour of the home of cricket turned into a moment of awe and inspiration — capped off by skipper Ayush Mhatre cutting a birthday cake on the historic Lord’s balcony.

“It’s a very special day for me that my birthday was celebrated at Lord’s, and my cake cutting happened at the venue,” Mhatre said. “There will never be a bigger moment in my life, but this biggest moment feels very special. After seeing all of this, I can’t wait for the day when I can come here to play and bat.”

Drawn to the Honours Board

The Indian cricket board posted a 2-minute-31-second video on Wednesday, capturing the team’s tour through some of Lord’s most iconic spaces — from the Long Room to the players’ balcony, where Indian cricketing folklore was made.

Amid the group’s wide-eyed wonder, it was Suryavanshi who quietly stole the spotlight. The young prodigy seemed especially drawn to the Lord’s dressing room and its famed Honours Board — a symbol of cricketing immortality.

India U-19 head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar said he could relate to the sense of wonder the players felt.

“It’s a very big moment. One is the history of Lord’s, and second, there are so many great achievements here by our countrymen. It’s great to know the legacy this place has,” Kanitkar said.

“We toured Lord’s in 1994 as Under-19s as well. So I could relate to what they’re feeling — the boards in the dressing rooms where the achievements are written, the fifers and the hundreds — these things really inspire you.

Great inspiration for young stars

“Boys do learn what is there to achieve at these places, which are far away from home. And they understand what our countrymen — or even their future teammates — may have felt here. It’s inspiring. It’s a great thing for these boys to get a look at this historic place, and maybe visualise themselves playing here one day.”

The Indian Under-19 side has been on a productive tour of England. They clinched the five-match Youth ODI series 3–2, and the first Youth Test ended in a draw, with England U-19 skipper Hamza Shaikh scoring a fighting century in the second innings.