Business Lessons from Cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Mindset, Branding & Growth

Business Lessons from Cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi: Mindset, Branding & Growth

Success in today’s fast-paced digital world demands more than just talent—it requires visibility, strategy, and powerful personal branding. That’s not just true for businesses and startups, but also for modern athletes.

One of the best recent examples of this synergy between performance and branding is the rise of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a promising Indian cricketer representing Bihar in domestic cricket and now a part of the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

At TricksShala, where we help small businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups scale digitally, we believe real-world stories create the most valuable business lessons. Let’s break down Vaibhav’s story and uncover powerful takeaways for entrepreneurs and founders looking to grow in 2025 and beyond.

🧠 1. Mindset First: Practice Off-Field Before You Perform On-Field

Vaibhav didn’t land in the IPL by accident. His consistent training, determination, and ability to stay focused under pressure mirror the traits successful entrepreneurs display behind the scenes.

In business, mindset is your engine:

• Are you building the right habits before expecting results?

• Are you investing in learning, tools, and community?

• Do you stay consistent even when there’s no applause?

Startups often fail not due to poor ideas, but because the founder mindset is untrained. Just as cricketers train for years before getting recognized, entrepreneurs must master the daily hustle—SEO, outreach, content, team management—before the spotlight shines.

📣 2. Visibility is Everything: What IPL Scouts Can Teach You About Marketing

Vaibhav’s entry into IPL wasn’t just about skill—it was about being seen. His performance had to be visible to selectors. That visibility didn’t happen in one match; it was built over time through continuous exposure, stats, and branding.

Businesses are no different:

• A brilliant product won’t succeed without visibility.

• Your audience needs to find you on Google, see you on LinkedIn, and trust you via blogs.

• SEO, content marketing, YouTube, and email marketing are your visibility scouts.

At TricksShala, we emphasize that visibility is no longer optional—it’s your brand’s oxygen.

👤 3. Build a Personal Brand Before Building a Business

Cricketers today are not just athletes—they are brands. Look at Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, or even rising stars like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Their identity off the field shapes how fans, sponsors, and brands interact with them.

So what about you?

As a founder, coach, or freelancer:

• You are the face of your brand.

• Your story builds trust and connection.

• People buy you, not just your product or service.

Whether you are a startup founder or solo entrepreneur, your LinkedIn profile, blog presence, and email signature are part of your personal brand identity.

Start today by sharing your journey, struggles, wins—even mistakes. Authenticity drives loyalty.

🤝 4. Teamwork > Solo Hustle: Learn to Delegate & Scale

Vaibhav’s journey to the IPL involved coaches, mentors, teammates, and consistent support. No cricketer becomes successful alone.

As a business owner, it’s tempting to try and do everything—marketing, admin, sales, web updates—but that’s not sustainable.

You need a team, even if it’s small:

• A designer who understands your brand

• A digital strategist who aligns SEO with goals

• A virtual assistant to handle recurring tasks

At TricksShala, we’ve seen our clients scale rapidly after building the right team or outsourcing their weak spots. Don’t wait to burn out—grow through collaboration.

🔥 5. Turn Opportunities into Branding Assets

Getting selected for IPL is a dream. But for smart athletes, it’s more than just cricket—it’s a brand accelerator. They get featured in interviews, ads, and reels—and suddenly their name is everywhere.

You can do the same for your brand:

• Got featured in a blog or podcast? Flaunt it.

• Completed a major project? Turn it into a case study.

• Earned praise from a client? Share the testimonial.

Convert every win into a story that markets your brand. That’s what smart founders—and smart cricketers—do.