Vaibhav Suryavanshi – India’s Youngest Gun In The Making

Just after turning 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar got his opportunity to play his first IPL game against the Lucknow Super Giants because of an unfortunate injury to his Rajasthan Royals’ skipper, Sanju Samson.

Facing his first ball, he smoked it over covers for a six. As they say, “THE FIRST TIME WAS NICE, SO I HAD TO DO IT TWICE”. In his third innings, he scored the fastest hundred ever by an Indian in the IPL. Vaibhav Suryavanshi defined how modern cricket will be played, blasting deliveries like a bazooka right from ball one.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Early Life

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the child prodigy, was born on 27th March 2011. This was just 5 days before all of India went bonkers as they won their second ODI World Cup after a gap of 28 years.

Hailing from a small village, Tajpur in Bihar, his passion for cricket began very early, at the age of just 4. His father, Sanjeev, was a former cricketer himself. He spotted Vaibhav’s natural talent and passion for the game very early and built a small practice area in their backyard. At the age of 9, he got Vaibhav into a cricket academy to train more professionally.

Role of Vaibhav’s Supportive Parents

His parents were his ultimate support system. According to Vaibhav, his mother would sleep at 11 pm every day and wake up at 2 am to cook meals for him. His father gave up his job, with Vaibhav’s elder brother going to work.

He and his father would travel 90km every day to Patna for practice. Sometimes his father would also call the boys in their neighbourhood who could bowl tirelessly at Vaibhav. He also sponsored their travel and food expenses. The situation was tough at his home, but his father didn’t want Vaibhav to be bogged down by that. His parents didn’t expect Vaibhav to excel both at studies and cricket, and kept Vaibhav’s cricketing journey their topmost priority.

He got up every day for home tuition between 5 am to 6 am and then went straight for practice at around 6:30 am. According to his friends and family, he was an attacking player right from the very beginning. However, his focus was unreal.

He always picked the right ball to hit, complementing it with a good defensive game. At 12, he amassed 400 runs from just 5 games in the 2023 Vinoo Mankad Trophy for Bihar. The BCA president, Rakesh Tiwary, was very impressed with Vaibhav and provided Vaibhav both opportunities and facilities.

Interested in reading stories about young stars of this year’s IPL? Check out our article on Priyansh Arya and his journey.

Mixed bag of domestic performances & brilliant U19 Asia Cup!

With high expectations, Vaibhav was selected for the India A U19 series against Bangladesh and England in 2023. It was a litmus test for the 2024 U19 World Cup. He failed to meet his sky-high expectations, scoring just a couple of fifties. He eventually didn’t make it to the Under-19 squad for the World Cup. However, with unwavering determination, Vaibhav attended the Under-23 selection camp. He performed exceedingly well, earning a place in Bihar’s Ranji Trophy squad. In January 2024, he became the youngest Indian to play first-class cricket since 1986.

In September 2024, Vaibhav played for India Under-19 in the youth test against Australia Under-19 and scored a swashbuckling century off just 58 balls. He also played in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. He amassed 176 runs from 5 innings, striking at 145.45, with a couple of fifties to his name.

Credit: The Indian Express

IPL Contract & Stellar IPL Debut

His consistent performances in the Under-19 circuit caught the eyeballs of the IPL teams, and he was called for trials for a couple of teams. There was a fierce bidding war between the Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Capitals for Vaibhav. Finally, Rajasthan bought Vaibhav for 1.10 Crore INR. Social media went mad after a fourteen-year-old boy was handed an IPL contract in a mega auction, where many notable players from India and other countries went unsold.

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With Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the mix, breaking into the team was always a challenge for Vaibhav. However, his consistent performances during pre-season camps and in the nets kept him on the radar of the RR management. After seven games into the season, an injury to Sanju Samson opened the door for Vaibhav to make his IPL debut against the Lucknow Super Giants. LSG won the toss and chose to bat first, setting Rajasthan Royals a stiff target of 181 runs.

What followed was simply spectacular. Shardul Thakur, one of India’s leading medium-pacers, who was LSG’s best bowler up until that point, was bowling the first over. In the fourth ball of the over, Thakur bowled a decent length delivery around the off-stump line, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was playing his first ball, just whacked it over covers for a six. That shot was more of a statement, letting the world know that “I am here”. That shot left everyone in awe, even the opponents.

He had a very good debut, scoring 34 off just 20 balls, setting up the platform for the others to finish the game. Many people who thought that maybe Vaibhav isn’t exactly 14 years old need to see how he reacted after he got out. He was sobbing with the way he got out, just like every one of us did in our childhood after getting out.

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Breathtaking Century

He got out cheaply in the next against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. With only three wins from their first nine games, the Rajasthan Royals badly wanted a win in their next game, if they had to enter the playoffs.

However, they were up against the Gujarat Titans, who have been the best side in the tournament. Batting first, the Gujarat Titans set up a formidable target of 210 runs. Gujarat Titans tasted success in the tournament, solely because of their tactical moves and the well-rounded bowling unit they had. The bowling unit consisted of Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, and Washington Sundar. The target looked even tougher with this bowling unit.

What unfolded over the next couple of hours was nothing short of superhuman & divine. After missing his first ball, Vaibhav Suryavanshi launched Mohammed Siraj for a towering six over long-on. He went on a relentless attack, dispatching bowlers to all parts of the ground regardless of whether it was spin or pace. He reached his half-century in just 17 balls, becoming the youngest player ever to score a fifty in the IPL.

Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, the pair racked up 87 runs in the PowerPlay. Jaiswal, at just 23, had to take on the role of the experienced campaigner, constantly guiding the 14-year-old prodigy through his innings. Though Vaibhav benefited from a bit of luck with several edges racing to the boundary, his intent never wavered. He remained aggressive throughout, eventually bringing up a stunning century off just 35 balls with a six off Rashid Khan. It made him the fastest Indian to score an IPL hundred and the second-fastest overall. He was also the youngest to achieve the feat.

Out of his 101 runs, 94 came in boundaries, including 11 sixes and 7 fours. A dominant 61% of his runs came through the leg side, as he consistently targeted that area with powerful heaves. The Gujarat Titans were left stunned by the brilliance of the teenager, as Rajasthan Royals chased down a daunting target of 210 in just 15.5 overs. Unsurprisingly, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was named Player of the Match.

Credit: Hindustan Times

At just fourteen, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has taken the cricketing world by storm with his fearless and explosive batting. He perfectly resonates with the bold spirit of today’s youth. His stance and grip signal pure intent. He’s not there to defend but to attack every delivery, living by the mantra, “If it’s in the arc, it’s out of the park.”

While his aggressive game is already turning heads, developing a strong defensive technique and choosing the right moments to go big could make him a complete player. With time on his side and the right guidance, especially from someone like Rahul Dravid, known for nurturing young talent.

Vaibhav has all the tools to become not just a star for the Rajasthan Royals but also a future mainstay in the Indian team. If he stays grounded and committed, the cricketing world could be watching a sensation in the making for the next two decades.

His raw talent, combined with a fearless mindset, makes him a rare gem. The maturity he’s shown at such a young age is extraordinary. If nurtured well, he could redefine the way India looks at teenage talent. The journey has only just begun, but the signs already point to something truly special.