NEW DELHI: He came, he saw, he conquered — that’s exactly how 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi lit up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, leaving fans in awe with his majestic strokeplay and whirlwind century. In return, the crowd roared in celebration, cheering loudly for the young sensation from Samastipur, Bihar.
On Monday, Rajasthan Royals’ latest batting prodigy etched his name into IPL history by becoming the youngest-ever player to score a century in the tournament, achieving the feat at just 14 years and 32 days. Suryavanshi blazed his way to a blistering hundred off just 35 balls, hammering 11 sixes and seven fours — the second-fastest century in IPL history. He eventually departed after scoring a stunning 101 off 38 deliveries.
His sensational knock came against IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, who had posted a formidable target of 210. In reply, Rajasthan Royals cruised to victory, chasing down the total with ease, reaching 212 for two in just 15.5 overs.
Suryavanshi’s innings not only marked the fastest IPL century by an Indian but also made him the youngest-ever to achieve a hundred in the league’s history. Supporting him at the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal anchored the chase with a composed unbeaten 70 off 40 balls.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Titans had ridden on captain Shubman Gill’s 84 and Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 50 to post 209 for four.
The record for the fastest century in IPL history, however, still belongs to West Indies great Chris Gayle, who smashed a 30-ball ton for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in April 2013.
At an age when most teenagers are busy indulging in their favourite meals, Suryavanshi has made notable sacrifices for his cricketing ambitions — giving up his two favourites, pizza and mutton. His discipline and focus are already reaping rich rewards.
“Mutton nahi khana hai usko, instructions hain. Pizza hata diya hai uske diet chart mein se [Mutton is not allowed for him as per the instructions. Pizza has been removed from his diet chart]. He is just fond of chicken and mutton. He is a kid, so he used to love pizza a lot. But he doesn’t eat it anymore. When we used to give him mutton, no matter how much we gave, he would finish all of it. That’s why he looks a bit chubby,” coach Manish Ojha had told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.
“He will go a long way. We’ve seen the way he started the innings, and I can promise you — he will score big in the coming matches.”
“He’s a fearless batter. He has said time and again that he admires Brian Lara. But he’s a mix of Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara. His aggression is just like Yuvraj’s,” he added.
THE STRUGGLE
Suryavanshi was born on March 27, 2011 — the same year India lifted the World Cup under MS Dhoni’s leadership. Now, at just 14, he has already played five first-class matches for Bihar in the 2024-25 domestic season.
His cricketing journey began early.
He was only four years old when his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a farmer, noticed him smashing a plastic ball around with great power and timing.
After a long day in the fields, Sanjeev would throw underarm deliveries to his son and they would play together. Eventually, Sanjeev created a small practice area in their backyard, giving Vaibhav space to hone his skills.
Impressed by his son’s passion and commitment, Sanjeev took Vaibhav to Brajesh Jha, his first coach, at an academy in Samastipur. After training under Jha, they made another significant move — this time to Patna, where Manish Ojha helped further shape Vaibhav’s cricketing abilities.
The 90 km journey from Samastipur to Patna was no easy task, but Sanjeev was determined. He bought a car and would drive his son to the academy. Vaibhav trained under Ojha on alternate days.
By the time he was 14, Suryavanshi had already become a formidable force in various local tournaments across Bihar.
Whether it was the Heman Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy, the Challengers Trophy (U-19), or the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, Vaibhav checked every box in style, steadily rising through the ranks to reach this significant level in his career.
“He has been a dominant batter whenever he’s come to the crease. He was patient for his turn. He played in Rajasthan Royals’ eighth game. Of course, no one wants to sit in the dugout and watch others play. He was also itching to get out in the middle, but I told him to be patient, keep learning, and wait for his chance. Now the chance came — and he has delivered,” the coach said.
