Jaipur/Patna: Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar has made history by becoming the youngest player to score a fifty in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reaching his half-century in just 17 balls during the 18th season. The 14-year-old, bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.10 crore, went on to score a remarkable 101 runs off 38 balls, including 11 sixes and seven fours.
In the 47th match of the season, played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals faced Gujarat Titans, who had set a target of 210 runs after posting 209 for four. Rajasthan, choosing to bowl first, began their chase with Vaibhav opening as an impact player. He was eventually bowled by Prasidh Krishna in the 12th over but not before leaving a lasting impression with his explosive knock.
Vaibhav made his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants, hitting a six on the very first ball of his career off Shardul Thakur and scoring 34 runs in 20 balls before being stumped by Aiden Markram. His fearless batting at such a young age has already captured the imagination of cricket fans across the country.
Born on 27 March 2011 in Tajpur, Samastipur district of Bihar, Vaibhav started playing cricket at the age of five. After honing his skills in local academies in Samastipur and later at the Gen X Cricket Academy in Patna, he quickly rose through the ranks, scoring 49 centuries in various matches over the past year.
Earlier this year, Vaibhav also showcased his talent internationally, representing India in the Under-19 four-day series against Australia, where he scored a century off just 58 balls, an innings decorated with 14 fours and four sixes.
Vaibhav’s journey from backyard cricket to the biggest stage of T20 cricket is seen as a story of prodigious talent and perseverance, with many tipping him to be one of India’s future stars.
