“Why Take a Single When You Can Hit a Six?”: 14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Redefines Fearless Batting in IPL 2025
By Mohsin Kamal | April 30, 2025
At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has shaken the cricketing world. With a record-breaking century and a fearless approach that echoes cricket’s most aggressive legends, this teenage prodigy has become the talk of IPL 2025.
During a recent interview, one of his early coaches recalled a defining moment. “I told him, ‘Vaibhav, why don’t you take singles too? These are four-day games,’” said Manish Ojha, a former Jharkhand cricketer. “And he simply replied, ‘Sir, if I can hit the ball for six, why settle for one?’ That’s when I knew he was different.”
On Monday, that same mindset lit up the Arun Jaitley Stadium as Suryavanshi smashed the fastest T20 century ever by a teenager — a blistering 38-ball 100 for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans. His knock, featuring 11 sixes and 7 fours, left some of the most seasoned bowlers — including Ishant Sharma, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Siraj — helpless.
From Samastipur to IPL Stardom
Born in the small town of Samastipur in Bihar, Vaibhav’s cricketing journey is nothing short of inspiring. With no proper academies nearby, his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a club-level cricketer, began training him at home from the age of five. When Vaibhav turned eight, his father made a bold move: he sold a plot of land to shift his son’s training to Patna, three hours away, where better facilities and coaching awaited.
“People called him crazy,” said coach Robin Singh. “But he believed in his son when no one else did.”
His mother played her part too — waking up at 3 a.m. to prepare meals and sending food for coaches to keep her son’s dream alive.
Training Like No Other
Vaibhav’s training schedule would put seasoned pros to shame — batting from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, facing up to 450 balls. By the time he was 12, he was already outperforming players twice his age.
Soon, he was drafted into Bihar’s U-19 team, then the India U-19 squad, where he smashed a 58-ball century in a youth Test against Australia. At just 13, he was playing in the Ranji Trophy, and by the end of 2024, Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹1.1 crore in the IPL auction.
A Youngster with the Mindset of a Champion
Suryavanshi idolizes Brian Lara and it shows in his style — elegant, aggressive, and fearless. His coaches highlight a rare quality: he doesn’t just learn fast in the nets — he executes flawlessly in pressure situations.
“He’s not just talented — he’s mentally a level above,” said Ojha. “He doesn’t play age-group cricket anymore. From 10 days in, we had him practising with senior players.”
“Boss Baby” of IPL – And a National Hope
Cricket circles have nicknamed him “Boss Baby”, drawing parallels with Chris Gayle, the Universe Boss himself. In fact, 46% of Vaibhav’s IPL runs this season have come through the mid-wicket and long-on region, mainly off fast bowlers — where he’s scored at a phenomenal strike rate of 243.
He’s already surpassed Vijay Zol’s record as the youngest T20 centurion and is now being tipped to follow Sachin Tendulkar’s footsteps into the Indian national side.
“A kid from a remote Bihar village has set the IPL on fire,” said Robin Singh. “If he can do this, don’t be shocked if he’s wearing the Indian jersey soon.”
What’s Next?
After receiving a ₹9 lakh reward from the Bihar government, Vaibhav’s next challenge is no easy task — a face-off with Jasprit Bumrah and the title-contending Mumbai Indians this Thursday.
With the cricket world watching, one question remains: Is this just the beginning of a new cricketing era?
🎧 Catch Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians Live
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