New Delhi: There are big hitters, run machines, and natural stroke-makers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). And then, there is Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Many a jaw dropped Monday night as the 14-year-old cleared boundaries at will in the match against Gujarat Titans, smashing a 35-ball hundred at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The baby faced opener, in the process, became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket.
Suryavanshi’s innings was not only the second-fastest century in IPL history—behind only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball effort in 2013—but also the fastest by any Indian in the league, eclipsing Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton from 2010. For Rajasthan Royals, it was a new benchmark, surpassing Pathan’s record for the franchise as well.
Suryavanshi and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal set the highest-ever partnership for Rajasthan Royals in IPL history with a 166-run stand, surpassing all previous records for the team in the tournament.
The left-hander finished with 101 runs off 38 balls, 94 of those runs coming in boundaries, including 11 sixes—the joint-most by an Indian in an IPL equaling the record set by Murali Vijay in an IPL match. His assault included a 30-run over off Afghanistan allrounder Karim Janat (6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 6), and came against a Gujarat Titans attack featuring seven international bowlers.
Youngest to score an IPL hundred
First Indian centurion this season
Second-fastest 100 in IPL HISTORY 💯
This. Was. The. Moment. 💗pic.twitter.com/bBld2KgJMn
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 28, 2025
By the time Suryavanshi was bowled by Prasidh Krishna, Rajasthan’s chase of 210 was all but complete. Jaiswal (70* off 40) and captain Riyan Parag finished the job with eight wickets and 25 balls to spare.
As Suryavanshi made his way back to the pavilion, every Gujarat player lined up to congratulate him. Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Rahul Dravid, seated in a wheelchair in the dugout, rose to his feet to give the teenager a standing ovation.
“Feels really good. It was my first century in the IPL in my third innings. What I’ve been practicing for the last three-four months, the result is showing. I don’t see the ground so much, just focus on the ball. Batting with him [Jaiswal] gives me confidence because he keeps very positive and giving me advice, so it becomes easy to bat with him. It is like a dream to score a century in the IPL. No, no fear. I’m not thinking about all that [bowlers targeting him]. I am just focusing on playing,” Suryavanshi said after receiving the Player-of-the-Match award.
Cricketing world in awe
Suryavanshi’s record-breaking knock triggered an outpouring of praise from on the internet. The best insight came from none other than batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
“Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings. End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!!” Sachin wrote.
Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings.
End result: 101 runs off 38 balls.
Well played!!pic.twitter.com/MvJLUfpHmn
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 28, 2025
Suryakumar Yadav, one of India’s most dynamic T20 batters, posted, “Witnessed this carnage of an innings by this youngster. Absolutely insane!” India captain Rohit Sharma called it a “class innings.”
From the non-cricketing world, Congress veteran P. Chidambaram said on social media, “Vaibhav Suryavanshi is unbelievable! This 14-year old phenomenal talent must be carefully nurtured; he is good for another 20 years!”
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty joined in, dubbing Suryavanshi the “man cub” and writing, “100 Runs. 35 Balls. 14 Years Old ONLY!!! If only I could write as fast as he scores!!! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-remember the name!!! The Man Cub.”
The making of a phenomenon
Suryavanshi’s IPL debut itself was a story. He was drafted into the playing XI after regular captain Sanju Samson was ruled out with an abdominal injury. In his first three innings, he has scores of 34, 16, and now a record-shattering 101.
His prodigious talent was already known in youth cricket: he smashed a 58-ball hundred-the fastest by an Indian in youth Tests-against Australia Under-19s, scored two half-centuries in the Under-19 Asia Cup, and boasts an unbeaten triple-century in an Under-19 tournament in Bihar.
Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour, who has watched Suryavanshi closely in the nets, was not surprised by the fireworks. “We’ve been watching it at the nets for the last few months. We knew what he’s capable of and what kind of shots he can play. But to do it in front of this kind of crowd and in a situation like this, against a really, really good bowling attack, I think it was really special,” Rathour said at the post-match press conference.
The former Indian cricketer offered a glimpse into the teenager’s approach. “He is one guy who takes on Jofra [Archer] in the nets. Jofra is maybe one of the toughest bowlers to face in the nets because he is so awkward and he bowls quick. But he is the one who really bats against him and really takes him on,” Rathour said.
Rathour also broke down Suryavanshi’s technical strengths. “He’s got a great downswing if you want to go into technique. In technical stuff, he’s got a great downswing. So that helps him generate this kind of power. And today, he just showed everybody actually how good he is.”
Not only did the southpaw hit 11 sixes, he backed them with seven fours Monday night. His batting prowess was never in doubt: Suryavanshi had smashed a six the first ball he had faced in IPL to announce his arrival on T20’s biggest spectacle.
For Rajasthan, Suryavanshi’s emergence has been timely. The team, forced into a reshuffle by Samson’s injury, found in him not just a stopgap but a sensation. With five consecutive losses behind them, another defeat could have ended their playoff hopes. Looking ahead in IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals still have an outside chance to qualify, boosted by the arrival of a new star at the top of their order. For Indian cricket, this marks the start of a new chapter-one where the extraordinary is possible and age is just a number.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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