by Mick the Ram
Rajasthan Royals’ 14-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to hit a century in men’s T20 cricket during an Indian Premier League (IPL) game against Gujarat Titans.
Suryavanshi pulled Rashid Khan for six to bring up the second fastest hundred in IPL history and the fastest by an Indian player, reaching his milestone off just 35 balls.
The teenage left-hander smashed seven fours and 11 sixes before he was eventually bowled for a wonderful 101 as his Royals team eased to a comfortable eight-wicket win with more than four overs to spare.
The precocious talent was signed at auction for £103,789 (1.1 crore rupees), becoming the competition’s youngest ever player earlier this month when making an immediate impact by hitting his first delivery over the ropes for six.
Only the West Indies great Chris Gayle has completed three figures quicker in the IPL when racing to a 30-ball ton for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors, back in 2013.
Destined for greatness
The superstar schoolboy plays first-class cricket for Bihar, the eastern Indian state where he grew up, and for who he made his debut aged just twelve in January 2024.
Such was the demand for his signature, young Suryavanshi became the focal point of a bidding war at the official IPL player auction.
Remarkable innings
He made headlines last October when aged thirteen he scored a 58-ball century for India Under-19s in a Youth Test against Australia Under-19s in Chennai.
That same incredible ability was there for all to see in Jaipur in his latest display, as he shredded the Gujarat bowling attack in a remarkable controlled assault.
Dismantling a top class attack
Chasing a seemingly demanding 210 for victory he put on 166 with India batter Yashasvi Jaiswal, who ended unbeaten on 70 from 40 balls, as they made light work of the target.
Suryavanshi smashed 11 maximums and a further seven fours against a top quality bowling outfit that featured former world number one bowler Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and established India internationals Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna.
