The Vaibhav Suryavanshi Story: A teen’s singleminded pursuit of greatness

On April 28, followers flocking to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur have been blissfully unaware of what they have been to witness over the course of the night. Dwelling franchise Rajasthan Royals – then precariously positioned within the race to the playoffs (now eradicated)– was going through an on-song Gujarat Titans, who had set a frightening goal of 210.

With out the providers of the injured Sanju Samson, nervousness was pure for the loyal Royals supporters. That gulf prompted the administration to position its religion in a 14-year-old – Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

The stadium was drenched in wonderful pink as Suryavanshi stirred even The Wall – RR coach Rahul Dravid – to leap out of his wheelchair and applaud.
| Picture Credit score:
X/Rajasthan Royals

Whereas any early scepticism was comprehensible, it could all vanish within the matter of an hour, with a young person displaying seasoned professionals their place on one of the crucial aggressive platforms within the sport. His 38-ball 101 was as audacious an inning as one might think about. The stadium was drenched in wonderful pink as Suryavanshi stirred even The Wall – RR coach Rahul Dravid – to leap out of his wheelchair and applaud his distinctive present. The teen paved the way in which for an eight-wicket win for the house facet with over 4 overs to spare.

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No concern

For many debutants, such a stage might need been overwhelming — however not for Suryavanshi. At simply 12, he had already performed red-ball Ranji Trophy cricket. By 13, he had notched a 58-ball century in Beneath-19 Take a look at debut in opposition to Australia — the quickest by an Indian and the second-fastest ever in youth internationals. Within the ACC U-19 Asia Cup in 2024, he amassed 176 runs at a mean of 44, and had scored 177 runs in a quadrangular U-19 collection with two fantastic half-centuries. He scored an unbeaten 332 within the Randhir Verma U-19 event in Bihar.

“When preparation meets alternative, future doesn’t wait — it explodes onto the sector.”

Suryavanshi aced his first impression with an easy six over further cowl off his very first ball within the league. He ultimately made a fiery 20-ball 34 in opposition to Lucknow Tremendous Giants and was decreased to tears on being dismissed.

What adopted two video games later at dwelling (vs GT) was not only a century, however a historic one at that.

Suryavanshi grew to become the youngest Indian to attain a century and the quickest to an IPL ton within the historical past of a event which started even earlier than he was born! He additionally grew to become the youngest (14 years 32 days) to smash 100 within the shortest format.

“I solely noticed the ball, not the bowler,” the batter from Bihar exclaimed, standing proudly with the glittering Participant-of-the-Match honour.

Suryavanshi is casting himself within the mould of the legendary Arjun’s from the Mahabharat who, throughout his coaching, claimed he noticed nothing however the eye of the chicken he was aiming at – a single-minded imaginative and prescient that led him to greatness.

Grounded

Suryavanshi’s beginnings could be traced to Samastipur in Bihar. His coach Manish Ojha proudly tells reporters and cricket lovers alike that his ward would face 350-400 balls on a regular basis to hone his craft. Similar to Arjun, for whom perfection was second pores and skin, Suryavanshi, too, was simply as relentless on the Gen Subsequent Cricket Academy within the state capital.

However behind this meteoric rise lies a narrative of quiet sacrifice and extraordinary humility.

“My mom used to sleep for 3 hours, get up at 2am, put together meals for me. My father give up his job, my elder brother took over. No matter outcomes you’re seeing at present, my success is all due to my dad and mom,” the batter mentioned in an emotional post-inning interview. Fittingly, after his record-breaking hundred, the primary name he made was to his father, starting with quiet “Pranaam, Papa ji.”.

Suryavanshi’s performances drew reward from the who’s who of the Indian cricketing world. Former India cricketer and his mentor Wasim Jaffer noticed, “On this format, for him to hit 11 sixes in IPL says a lot about his capability and expertise.”

Ojha underlines that not all of it’s by design and far could be routed to his pupil’s innate power and placement. “He can hit sixes even when the fielders are on the boundary. He recurrently clears 80–90 meters.”

Even earlier than his debut, destiny appeared to jot down the script. In a Royals video, Suryavanshi foreshadowed his personal’s IPL entry whereas asking teammate Fazalhaq Farooqi, “Have you ever ever hit a six off the primary ball?”

Days later, he answered his personal query — with a convincing sure.

In fact, greatness comes with its trials.

After a scintillating century in opposition to GT, Vaibhav Suryavanshi might solely handle a two-ball duck within the subsequent recreation in opposition to Mumbai Indians.
| Picture Credit score:
Sportzpics for IPL

The highs of the century have been adopted by the dip of a two-ball duck in opposition to Mumbai Indians, very similar to Ishan Kishan’s hundred-and-duck early within the season. Jaffer was fast to place that in perspective. “Don’t get me mistaken. A participant of his capability goes to fail typically… However when he comes good, he’s a match-winner. So we’ve received to take the great with the unhealthy.”

In simply 4 matches of IPL 2025, Suryavanshi has racked up 151 runs at a staggering strike charge of 209.75 — together with 9 fours and 16 sixes. These are excellent numbers one would come to count on of seasoned campaigners. That these are the returns from the bat of a boy 4 years youthful than the event he’s enjoying in are phenomenal.

A younger Arjun has arrived, with bat in hand, eyeing a vivid future. The journey has simply begun, however guarantees miles and miles, and fairly a number of milestones alongside the way in which.