Sold farmland to make his son a cricketer, father's sacrifice pays off; Indian cricket's new rising star

JAIPUR: Cricket fans witnessed history unfold at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a stunning performance, smashing a century off just 35 balls in Rajasthan Royals’ emphatic victory over Gujarat Titans in the IPL. Opening the innings, Vaibhav’s explosive 101 off 38 balls — featuring 7 fours and 11 sixes — powered Rajasthan to chase down a challenging 210-run target with ease.

The young prodigy, playing only his third IPL match, not only became the youngest player ever to score a century in the tournament’s history but also registered the fastest century by an Indian in IPL. His fearless knock ended Rajasthan's losing streak and left the cricketing world in awe.

Supporting him at the crease, Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 70 (40 balls), while Riyan Parag chipped in with a quickfire 32 off 15, as the Royals cruised to an eight-wicket win in just 15.5 overs.

Hailing from Samastipur, Bihar, Vaibhav’s journey to the IPL has been marked by determination and sacrifice. He caught national attention at the age of 12, debuting in first-class cricket for Bihar. Trained initially by his father Sanjeev Suryavanshi, Vaibhav started playing at four and joined a local academy by nine. His family sold their farmland to support his budding cricket career—a gamble that has now paid off.

In November 2024, he became the youngest Indian to play List A cricket, featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Madhya Pradesh. He made his IPL debut at just 14 years and 23 days, becoming the youngest player in league history. Rajasthan Royals acquired him for ₹1.10 crore, and he was thrust into the spotlight as an opener on April 19, replacing an injured Sanju Samson.

Vaibhav made an unforgettable IPL debut, hitting a six off his very first ball. Although he was dismissed for a brisk start in that match by Aiden Markram, his emotional reaction captured hearts online. Notably, Vaibhav is the first IPL player born after the league's inception to play in the tournament—a sign of a new generation stepping into the limelight.