The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi only needed one IPL ball to disclose a crucial aspect of himself. In addition to announcing his entrance in the major league, his lofted drive inside-out for a six demonstrated his reckless and unaffected batting style, which showed no regard for the bowler regardless of their reputation.
Under the lights, the arrogance was evident. Beyond the spectacle, however, was the matter of who Suryavanshi was: in training sessions, surrounded by large, seasoned cricket players who are familiar with their routines, accustomed to the spotlight and pressure, and conscious of their expectations as well as those of the opposition.
The ‘too-young’ Suryavanshi was not asked to provide an explanation, even though he scored a record-breaking century. Instead, Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathore showed up to provide his version on Monday after the team’s victory over the Gujarat Giants.
“He’s been exactly like what you’ve seen him on the pitch,” Rathore admitted. “No one in the nets intimidates him. He faces Jofra, a quick and awkward bowler who is among the hardest to deal with in the nets.
However, he confronts him head-on. Once more.” The music and lights abruptly stopped as Rathore was finishing his statement. Call it cosmic intervention if you will, but on April 28, 2025, nobody was intentionally detracting from Suryavanshi. Find out who won the Orange Cap by asking Sai Sudarshan. Shubman Gill, who hit another magnificent half-century, is the one to ask. Jos Buttler reminded everyone about the Rajasthan Royals’ defeat. Ask Yashasvi Jaiswal, who lit up a successful run chase with an undefeated half-century.
The youngster from the “clan of the sun” lived up to the name, dazzling brightest among all the stars under the floodlights of Jaipur, Suryavanshi.
Suryavanshi quickly established the rules of the game by hitting Mohammed Siraj for a 90-meter six over long on as he chased a target that the Gujarat Titans, the opposition, thought was above par.
Even when there were clear traps set out, he was not scared to hit over the in-field. Suryavanshi created his own blueprint to succeed on the Jaipur surface, despite the fact that Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill had already given it earlier in the game, on their way to their respective quick half-centuries.
Not everything landed in the center of his bat as he let loose his powerful swing. In fact, 38 percent of his attempted shots were incorrect strokes by the time he reached the half-century mark in the fifth over. A lot of stuff was irrelevant.
Two edges went past the ropes and one over them in the over before that, which was bowled by Ishant Sharma. The edges that gave Vaibhav those boundaries were like salt on the wounds of the seasoned bowler. A delivery on his pads was casually flicked into the roof of the stands with a no-look follow-up, just a ball before he was enticed to slash outside off.
In that over, Ishant hit 28. In the next, Washington went for 21. Karim Janat was hit for 30 and Prasidh was hit for 17 after a few overs.
In addition to his record-breaking strokeplay, his innings was full with good fortune. According to Albert Greenfield’s view, the skilled get lucky. Bowlers were forced to change their lines by several nonchalant pulls, booming drives, strong flicks, and bold chips over the in-field, even if there were plenty of cuts and pulls that stole the top edge.
Suryavanshi has demonstrated and verified his range and skills. Sachin Tendulkar attributed Suryavanshi’s performance to his “fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and the energy behind the ball,” to put it in technical terms. Two words best described it by Rathore: tremendous downswing.
According to Rathore’s testimony, Suryavanshi’s performance on Monday did not surprise the Royals coaching staff. Over the past four months, they had witnessed ample proof of it. They were amazed by his ability to do so against the tournament’s top bowling attack on the greatest stage of the year.
All of this appears to be just another high-scoring IPL match from the Impact Player era, with the bowlers acting as helpless bystanders on boundary-fest conditions that have tempered the allure of quick hundreds. Suryavanshi may appear to be just another gifted young cricket player joining the long line of young players who continue to demonstrate the depth of skill hidden in the near-obscurity of Indian domestic cricket. similar to Ayush Mhatre. similar to Priyansh Arya.
However, Rathore thinks that Suryavanshi’s age of 14 is what makes this innings unique.
That age does matter in order to comprehend the scope of what transpired at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday night. Ishant began playing international cricket almost four years before to Suryavanshi’s birth, to put things in perspective.
Age is still a crucial factor in determining why, in contrast to many other IPL blistering knocks, this one would stick in people’s memories. Not only is it the second-quick IPL century in tournament history and the fastest by an Indian, but no one in the entire globe has ever recorded a T20 century at a younger age than Suryavanshi’s 14 years and 32 days.
The astonishment is heightened by the fact that Suryavanshi accomplished something that no one his age could have done anywhere in the globe. The story changes if you make it age-neutral.
Rathore was at a loss for adjectives to describe Suryavanshi’s performance because of his small vocabulary. Outstanding. Amazing. unique. However, he was careful to warn against over-comparing and over-expecting in all of the extreme emotions given to the innings. Rathore cautioned, “He’s just starting out,” “He is a unique child with a unique gift. He will succeed if he continues to put in a lot of effort.
Another glimmer of optimism has surfaced from the state as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the final international cricket player to represent Bihar, enters the latter stages of his career. Tendulkar and Rathore described his batting style as fearless, forceful, and having a superb downswing. Remember?
There are numerous interesting strands in Suryavanshi’s career. In front of him, the road extends. He has already entered the light without actively seeking it.
