At just 14 years and 32 days old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already etched his name into the cricketing record books. Smashing a sensational century in the IPL—the second-fastest ever—he has become the youngest to score a T20 hundred, shattering Vijay Zol’s decade-old record of 18 years and 118 days. With 94 of his runs coming in boundaries, his audacious innings was a declaration: Indian cricket’s next big thing has arrived.
TALENT BEYOND HIS YEARS
What makes Vaibhav so captivating is a rare blend of attributes—an exaggerated backlift, swift footwork, and a natural flair that lets his hand-eye coordination take over. Watching him bat is a sensory treat, a mix of elegance and power well beyond his age. But for those who’ve tracked his journey, his meteoric rise isn’t exactly surprising.
THE EARLY DAYS IN SAMASTIPUR
Vaibhav’s cricketing story began not in a city academy but in the backyard of his home in rural Samastipur, Bihar. His father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a former district-level cricketer, had been working in Mumbai when inspiration struck while watching young boys play at Oval Maidan. Determined to give his son a head start, he returned home and set up practice nets, insisting Vaibhav play only with leather balls from day one.
By age 10, Vaibhav was already facing older, faster bowlers—and dominating. “He used to pull and hook them a pro. Thank God he was never injured. He’s always been fearless,” Sanjeev recalled.
CLIMBING THE RANKS
The cricketing circuit quickly took notice. After a string of centuries in local leagues and a double hundred at the U-16 level, the Bihar selectors fast-tracked him to the senior ranks. He made his Ranji Trophy debut at just 12 years and 284 days—amid administrative controversies, but without a shadow of doubt over his skill.
His performance in the 2024 Vinoo Mankad Trophy was further proof of his class: 393 runs in five matches. Soon after, he hammered an unbeaten 332 in the U-19 Randhir Verma Tournament, cementing his reputation as a generational talent.
ON THE NATIONAL RADAR
Vaibhav’s rapid ascent caught the eye of the National Cricket Academy as well. VVS Laxman, now NCA director and U-19 head coach, personally advised Sanjeev to wait until Vaibhav turned 13 to bring him into the national youth system.
The wait paid off. In his debut U-19 match against Australia in Chennai, he struck a blistering 104 off 62 balls while opening the innings, becoming the youngest player to score a youth international century at 13 years and 187 days.
THE IPL BREAKTHROUGH
Even before his teenage years were well underway, Vaibhav had drawn the attention of IPL scouts. After a standout showing during trials at the Rajasthan Royals’ high-performance centre in Nagpur, he was soon on the radar of multiple franchises. During the IPL auction, the Delhi Capitals pushed hard but eventually bowed out, allowing the Royals to secure the teenage sensation for ₹1.1 crore.
On Monday, he made sure to justify every rupee. Against some of the best bowlers in the league—including Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna—Vaibhav unleashed a stunning innings, sending deliveries racing to the boundary and leaving fans and pundits awestruck.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
At just 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is already redefining what’s possible for young athletes in India. His technique is solid, his mentality steely, and his ambitions sky-high. If he continues on this path, Indian cricket could be looking at not just a prodigy but a future legend in the making.
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