14-year-old cricket phenom smashes second-fastest IPL century ever, leaving everyone speechless

By Lewis Barnett 1 May, 2025 5 mins read 50 Views

Holy crap. I just witnessed something that made me question everything I thought I knew about cricket prodigies. A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD kid just demolished the Gujarat Titans bowling attack like they were throwing beach balls at him.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Remember that name.

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Who even is this kid?!

Born March 27, 2011 (which makes me feel ancient, by the way), this Bihar wonderkid absolutely lit up the IPL yesterday with a century off just 35 balls. That's the second-fastest hundred in IPL history! The only person ahead of him? Chris Gayle – literally nicknamed "The Universe Boss" – who did it in 30 balls back in 2013.

Let that sink in for a second. A teenager who probably still has homework to finish just joined elite company that most professional cricketers can only dream about.

The carnage I witnessed

I was watching the match with my cricket-obsessed uncle (who hasn't stopped texting me about it since). Suryavanshi started cautiously... for about 3 deliveries. Then absolute mayhem. He smashed 11 SIXES. ELEVEN! Poor Karim Janat got absolutely massacred for 30 runs in a single over. My uncle's reaction: "This kid could be batting with a toothpick and still clear the boundary."

The Rajasthan Royals cruised to an eight-wicket victory, and honestly, it wasn't even close. Gujarat looked shell-shocked, like they couldn't comprehend what was happening to them.

From first ball six to history books

Just 10 days ago, this same kid announced his arrival by smashing a six off teh very first ball he faced in the IPL. Now, in only his third match, he's making the kind of history that gets documentaries made about you.

At 14 years and 32 days, he's now the youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket. Ever.

I spent my 14th birthday trying not to spill ice cream on my new jeans. This kid is demolishing professional bowling attacks on international television. Life isn't fair sometimes...

Even Jos Buttler couldn't believe what he was seeing

England's Jos Buttler had front-row seats to the carnage as Gujarat's wicketkeeper. Despite scoring a pretty impressive 50 not out from 26 balls himself, Buttler was completely overshadowed. Gotta feel for the guy – scores at almost two runs a ball and nobody even remembers he played.

I watched Buttler's face during one of Suryavanshi's massive sixes. Pure disbelief. The kind of look that says "I've been playing this game professionally for 15 years and this child is making me question my life choices."

The teammate who's seen it all before

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryavanshi's 23-year-old opening partner (who scored two Test double-centuries against England last year, by the way), seemed almost unsurprised. "It was an incredible innings, one of the best I've seen," he said. "I hope Vaibhav can keep doing this stuff for a long time."

Jaiswal added: "He played some amazing shots. He practises very hard — he has the game and the temperament."

Imagine being 23 and talking about your 14-year-old teammate like a proud dad. Cricket is weird sometimes.

From schoolboy to ₹103,789 professional

Back in January 2024, Suryavanshi made his first-class cricket debut for Bihar at just 12 years old. TWELVE. I was still trying to figure out algebra at that age.

The Rajasthan Royals clearly saw something special, signing him at last year's auction for £103,789. That seemed like a massive gamble on a child who couldn't even legally drive. Now? Looks like the steal of the century.

I asked my cricket-obsessed colleague what he thought about the innings. His response: "That kid just earned his entire contract value in one innings. Whoever scouted him deserves a raise."

What's next for this wonderkid? God only knows. But I'll be watching every match he plays from now on... just in case history gets rewritten again.

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Statistics

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How To

How to Select a Cricket Ball for Your Game

For the best cricket ball to choose, take into consideration your level of play. Leather balls, with their hardness and wear properties, are the standard for competitive play. Consider cheaper options like tennis or artificial balls for your practice sessions. These are safe and durable. Inspect the ball seam as well, as a more pronounced seam will help bowlers to achieve movement both in the air and on the pitch.