The cricket world is buzzing over Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s bold batting, but for this 14-year-old, hitting first-ball sixes is just par for the course. He made history in the IPL as the youngest player to score a century in T20 cricket, blasting 101 runs off just 38 balls with 11 sixes and seven fours. Out of his 101 runs, 94 came from boundaries, and this was only his third game in the high-stakes tournament. His debut was pretty impressive too, with a quick 34 runs off 20 balls, which included that first-ball six that got everyone talking.
It felt normal to me. I’ve played Under-19 for India and at the domestic level, so I’m used to hitting sixes on the first ball. I wasn’t worried about facing the first few balls because I knew if I saw a good ball, I’d go for it, Suryavanshi said after the match against Gujarat Titans. He also mentioned that while playing against an international bowler in a big match was exciting, he just focused on his game.
Coming from Samastipur in Bihar, Suryavanshi is younger than the IPL itself, and his achievement stands out in the league’s history. He credited his parents, Sanjeev and Aarti, for their sacrifices. I owe it all to my parents. My mom wakes up at 3 a.m. after getting only a few hours of sleep to prepare my meals. My dad has given up his job to support my cricket. My older brother is managing everything at home while I focus on my game.
He believes hard work leads to success. The results I’m seeing are thanks to my parents. I’m determined to keep my head down and work towards playing for India. I can’t stop pushing myself until I reach that level.
Suryavanshi is thankful to the Rajasthan Royals for believing in him. I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, and it’s finally happening. During the trials, I did well, and the coaching staff, including Vikram Rathour and Romi Bhinder, encouraged me. Meeting head coach Rahul Dravid was a dream. The support from the team gives me the confidence to do well, he added. They tell me I can help the team win without the pressure of what comes next.