Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, Becomes Youngest IPL Centurion With Record-Breaking 35-Ball Hundred

Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, just 14 years old, has made history by becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Suryavanshi blasted a sensational century off just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) in only his third IPL appearance.

His whirlwind innings also earned him the record for the second-fastest century in IPL history, behind only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball hundred for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013. It was also the fastest IPL century by an Indian, surpassing Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in 2010.

Suryavanshi reached his landmark in style, pulling Rashid Khan for a six over midwicket. His fireworks followed a stunning 30-run over against Afghanistan allrounder Karim Janat, who was making his IPL debut. Suryavanshi hammered 6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 6 in that over, accelerating rapidly towards his hundred.

Of his 101 runs off 38 balls, an astonishing 94 came via boundaries, including 11 sixes — equaling the record for most sixes by an Indian in an IPL innings. His fearless power-hitting dismantled an attack filled with international stars. By the time he was bowled by Prasidh Krishna, Rajasthan Royals were cruising in their chase of 210. Yashasvi Jaiswal (70* off 40) and captain Riyan Parag sealed an emphatic eight-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare.

“It feels really good. It was my first century in the IPL, in my third innings,” Suryavanshi said after receiving the Player of the Match award. “What I’ve been practicing for the last three-four months, the result is showing. I just focus on the ball, not on the ground or fielders. Batting with Jaiswal gives me confidence — he’s always positive and supportive. Scoring a century in the IPL is a dream come true. I’m not thinking about fear or bowlers targeting me — just focusing on my game.”

Suryavanshi’s opportunity came after RR captain Sanju Samson was sidelined with an abdominal injury. Seizing the chance, the teenager scored 34, 16, and 101 in his first three innings. His talent was already evident in youth cricket — he smashed a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19s and two fifties in the Under-19 Asia Cup, and once scored an unbeaten triple-century in a junior tournament in Bihar.

Recognizing his potential, Rajasthan Royals secured him for ₹1.10 crore (approximately USD 130,000) at the IPL 2024 mega auction and honed his skills at their high-performance center.

Riyan Parag was full of praise after the match: “It was incredible. We spent two months with him and knew what he could do, but doing it in front of a huge crowd against world-class bowlers is something you can’t really express in words.”

Batting coach Vikram Rathore echoed the sentiment, saying, “We’ve seen what he’s capable of in the nets. To come out and deliver against a top-quality attack in such a big match was really special.”

Asked how a 14-year-old could generate such immense power against seasoned international bowlers, Rathore explained: “He’s a special, special talent. Technically, he’s got a brilliant downswing, which helps him generate that kind of power. He’s fearless — he even takes on Jofra Archer in the nets without hesitation.”

Suryavanshi’s explosive arrival has set the IPL 2025 season alight and signaled the rise of a new teenage prodigy in Indian cricket.