The Indian Premier League witnessed a historic moment on Monday night as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever to score a century in the tournament’s history.
The Rajasthan Royals opener, aged just 14 years and 32 days, delivered a solid innings against the Gujarat Titans, smashing his way to a 35-ball hundred and finishing with 101 off 38 balls.
Suryavanshi launched his innings with a towering six off Mohammed Siraj, setting the tone for what would become one of the most talked-about performances in IPL history.
The left-hander did not falter against seasoned bowlers, notably taking Ishant Sharma apart for three sixes and two fours in a single over. By the time he reached his half-century in just 17 balls, he had already broken the record for the youngest half-centurion in IPL, surpassing his own captain Riyan Parag’s previous mark.
His century, the second-fastest in IPL history, after West Indies’ Chris Gayle’s 30-ball ton, included 11 sixes and seven boundaries. Suryavanshi’s strike rate soared to 265.79, and his partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal yielded a massive 166 runs in just 71 balls- the highest for any wicket in Rajasthan Royals’ IPL history. The Royals chased down a daunting 210-run target with 25 balls to spare, thanks in large part to the 14-year-old’s fireworks.
The moment Suryavanshi reached his century was met with a standing ovation from the crowd and his teammates. Even Rajasthan Royals’ head coach, Rahul Dravid, who has been using a wheelchair due to injury, stood up to applaud the young batter.
“It is like a dream to score a century in the IPL,” Suryavanshi said after the match.
Suryavanshi’s rise has been rapid. He was signed by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore, in the mega auction last November, when he was just 13. His latest performance has proved that age does not have anything to do with how much one can accomplish on the pitch, and it is expected that his achievement will inspire more young players to step up to the big stage.
