On April 28, 2025, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur witnessed a historic moment in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into cricketing folklore. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Gujarat Titans (GT), the young prodigy from Samastipur, Bihar, delivered a jaw-dropping 101 runs off just 38 balls, becoming the youngest-ever centurion in IPL history. His whirlwind knock, studded with 7 fours and 11 sixes, not only powered RR to an eight-wicket victory but also shattered multiple records, leaving fans and pundits in awe.
A Record-Breaking Debut Season
Suryavanshi stepped into the IPL 2025 season as a replacement for RR captain Sanju Samson, who was sidelined with a side strain. Making his debut against Lucknow Super Giants, the left-hander announced his arrival by smashing a six off the first ball he faced, bowled by Shardul Thakur. He scored 34 and 16 in his first two outings against Lucknow and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), respectively, showing glimpses of his fearless approach.
However, it was the clash against Gujarat Titans that truly showcased his prodigious talent. Chasing a daunting 210, Suryavanshi, alongside opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, launched an unrelenting assault on GT’s bowling attack. The duo put on 87 runs in the powerplay, with Suryavanshi alone hammering 28 runs off Ishant Sharma’s fourth over, leaving the senior India pacer rattled. His aggressive intent was evident from the third ball he faced, dispatching a Mohammed Siraj delivery for a towering six.
The Fastest Indian IPL Century
Suryavanshi reached his fifty in just 17 balls, registering the fastest half-century of the IPL 2025 season and the fastest maiden fifty by an uncapped Indian batter in the tournament’s history. He didn’t stop there. In just 35 balls, he brought up his century, breaking Yusuf Pathan’s 15-year-old record for the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian (37 balls). His 35-ball ton is the second-fastest in IPL history, trailing only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball blitz for RCB in 2013.
The table below highlights the fastest centuries in IPL history, with Suryavanshi’s remarkable feat securing the second spot:
| Player | Balls | Team | Against | Venue | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 30 | RCB | PWI | Bangalore | 2013 |
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 35 | RR | GT | Jaipur | 2025 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 37 | RR | MI | Mumbai | 2010 |
| David Miller | 38 | PBKS | RCB | Mohali | 2013 |
| Travis Head | 39 | SRH | RCB | Bengaluru | 2024 |
| Priyansh Arya | 39 | PBKS | CSK | Mullanpur | 2025 |
At 14 years and 32 days, Suryavanshi also became the youngest recorded T20 centurion, surpassing Vijay Zol’s mark (18y 118d) set in 2018. Remarkably, this knock also made him the youngest centurion in all limited-overs professional cricket, eclipsing Zahoor Elahi’s record from 1986.
A Partnership for the Ages
Suryavanshi’s 166-run opening stand with Jaiswal, achieved in just 11.5 overs, is now the highest partnership for any wicket in RR’s history, surpassing the 155-run stand between Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal in 2022. The duo’s onslaught ensured RR chased down 210 in just 15.5 overs, with 25 balls to spare—the largest margin in a successful 200+ chase in IPL history.
The Rajasthan Royals dugout erupted in celebration as Suryavanshi reached his milestones. Jaiswal, his opening partner, gave him a warm hug, while the crowd gave the teenager a standing ovation as he walked back after his 101-run masterclass.
Rewriting the Record Books
Suryavanshi’s innings was a record-breaking spree. Here are the highlights:
- Youngest IPL Half-Centurion: At 14 years and 32 days, he broke Riyan Parag’s record (17y 175d) for the youngest IPL fifty, with three of the youngest half-centurions now belonging to RR.
- Fastest Maiden Fifty by an Uncapped Indian: His 17-ball fifty surpassed Jaiswal’s 19-ball effort in 2021.
- Joint-Most Sixes by an Indian in an IPL Innings: His 11 sixes equaled Murali Vijay’s record from 2010.
- Fastest Indian to an IPL Century: He reached his ton in just three innings, beating the four-innings mark of Manish Pandey, Paul Valthaty, and Priyansh Arya.
- Highest Boundary Percentage in an IPL Century: 93.06% of his runs (94 out of 101) came from boundaries, surpassing Jaiswal’s 90.32% from 2023.
- Most Expensive First Over in IPL History: GT’s Karim Janat conceded 30 runs in the opening over, breaking Varun Chakravarthy’s 25-run record from 2019.
- Most Productive PowerPlay for RR: RR’s 87/0 in the powerplay surpassed their previous best of 85/1 against SRH in 2023.
A Magical Moment for Rajasthan Royals
Yusuf Pathan, whose record Suryavanshi broke, took to X to congratulate the young star. “Many congratulations to young #VaibhavSuryavanshi for breaking my record of the fastest @IPL hundred by an Indian! Even more special to see it happen while playing for @rajasthanroyals, just like I did. There’s truly something magical about this franchise for youngsters. Long way to go, champ!” he wrote.
Indeed, Rajasthan Royals have a knack for nurturing young talent, with Suryavanshi joining the likes of Jaiswal, Parag, and Samson as proof of the franchise’s youth development prowess.
The Match in Context
Gujarat Titans posted a formidable 209/4, thanks to Shubman Gill’s 84 and Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 50. Maheesha Theekshana was RR’s standout bowler, picking up two wickets. However, GT’s bowling unit was no match for Suryavanshi’s onslaught, as RR chased down the target with ease, snapping their losing streak in style.
A Star is Born
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 38-ball 101 is a moment that will be remembered for years to come. At just 14, he has not only rewritten IPL history but also signaled the arrival of a generational talent. As the cricketing world marvels at his fearless strokeplay and maturity, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning for the boy from Bihar.
