Vaibhav Suryavanshi: The very young batting sensation from Samastipur
Nowadays, everyone is talking about Pahalgam terror attack. The second-most popular topic is the batting exploits of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the fourteen-year-old batting sensation from a very small town of Bihar.I have discussed Pahalgam in my previous post. Now, let me discuss Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has forced me to watch those IPL matches in which he has appeared.
Vaibhav was born on 27th March 2011 in Tajpur, Samastipur district of Bihar. He has emerged as a cricketing prodigy, capturing the imagination of fans worldwide at just 14. Hailing from a modest background in the Mithila region, Vaibhav's journey from the fields of Bihar to the grand stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is a testament to his talent, grit, and family's unwavering support. His father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a farmer, recognized Vaibhav's passion for cricket at age four and built a small practice area in their backyard. To fund his son's dreams, Sanjeev sold land and drove Vaibhav 90 km to Patna for training. At nine, Vaibhav joined a cricket academy in Samastipur, later training under Manish Ojha, a former Ranji player, who honed his skills.
Vaibhav's domestic career began with a bang. At 12, he smashed 400 runs in five matches in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, earning a spot in Bihar's Ranji Trophy squad. In January 2024, he debuted against Mumbai at 12 years and 284 days, becoming one of India's youngest first-class debutants. His explosive 58-ball century for India U-19 against Australia in 2024, the fastest by an Indian in youth Tests, caught the attention of IPL scouts. Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs. 1.1 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, making him the youngest player to secure an IPL contract.
In IPL 2025, Vaibhav made history as the youngest debutant at 14 years and 23 days, against Lucknow Super Giants on 19th April. He announced his arrival with a first-ball six, scoring 34 runs off 20 balls. His defining moment came against Gujarat Titans on April 28, where he blazed a 38-ball 101, including 11 sixes and 7 fours, becoming the youngest IPL centurion and the second-fastest overall, only behind Chris Gayle. His 17-ball fifty in the same match set records as the fastest in IPL 2025 and against Gujarat Titans. Vaibhav's fearless batting, elegant stroke play, and ability to dominate international bowlers like Ishant Sharma and Rashid Khan earned praise from former players like Ravi Shastri.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi's meteoric rise signals a new dawn on the cricket field. With mentorship from Rahul Dravid and teammates like Yashasvi Jaiswal at Rajasthan Royals, expectations are sky-high. As he balances academics and cricket, the cricketing world eagerly awaits his evolution into a potential Indian superstar, hoping he continues to inspire with his talent and humility.
