India batting great Sachin Tendulkar led the plaudits for 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi after the Rajasthan Royals batter became the youngest centurion in men's Twenty20 cricket with a knock for the ages in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Just nine days after becoming the youngest player to debut in the IPL, Suryavanshi blew away observers again with a century in just his third match and, to boot, the second fastest in the tournament's 18-year history.
Suryavanshi had shown glimpses of his ability with a first-ball six on his IPL debut earlier this month, and on Monday his explosive talent was on full display as he tore apart Gujarat Titans with a 38-ball 101 in the Royals' eight-wicket win.
The teenager brought up his three figures by hitting Gujarat Titans star spinner Rashid Khan for a six over midwicket.
Rajasthan coach Rahul Dravid forgot about his leg injury and leapt from his wheelchair when Suryavanshi completed his ton in only 35 balls – the fastest by an Indian player in the league and second only to Chris Gayle's 30-ball century in 2013.
"Vaibhav's fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings," Tendulkar posted on social media.
"End result: 101 runs off 38 balls. Well played!!"
Of the 100 runs, an incredible 94 came off boundaries. He hit 11 sixes and seven fours.
“It feels really good,” Suryavanshi said. “It is like a dream to score a century in the IPL. What I’ve been practicing for the last three, four months, the result is showing.”
He was out three balls later for 101, missing a yorker.
"What were you doing at 14?!!" wrote former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. "This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid ... Playing with a fearless attitude. Proud to see the next generation shine."
Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth, renowned as a big hitter during his era, said the nation had found its newest superstar.
"At 14, most kids dream and eat ice cream," he wrote.
"Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivers a fabulous 100 against one of the contenders for the IPL. Composure, class, and courage beyond his years. We're witnessing the rise of a phenom."
Commentator Harsha Bhogle agreed with the 1983 World Cup winner's assessment.
"He [Suryavanshi] is only a child, but how would you ever know once he puts that helmet on," he added.
"This is a staggering performance and a grand announcement."
Suryavanshi's 166-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 70 not out off 40 balls, propelled Rajasthan to a remarkable rundown of Gujarat's imposing total of 209-4 with 25 balls to spare.
Rajasthan made 212-2, winning for only the third time in 10 games to stay in play-offs contention.
Suryavanshi rose to fame when he was drafted at age 13 last November. In a splashy debut this month, he whacked the first ball he faced for six at the same venue.
He showed brutal power-hitting on Monday against a battery of seasoned international bowlers including Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Washington Sundar.
The teenager smacked Ishant for three sixes and two fours in one over and clubbed spinner Sundar for two sixes and a four to raise the 2025 IPL's fastest half-century off 17 balls.
Suryavanshi raced to 94 when he belted Afghanistan fast bowler Karim Janat for three sixes and three fours, and raised the hundred against the great Rashid Khan.
“It was incredible,” Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag said of Suryavanshi. "We’ve spent two months with him [and] we have seen what he can do, but to see him do this against the world-class bowlers ... [I] can't express in words.”
Suryavanshi was patted on the back by his partner Jaiswal as he celebrated, removed his helmet and raised his bat to acknowledge the applause of the home crowd. He also saluted his teammates in the dugout with his bat.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna finally bowled out Suryavanshi, who walked off to another standing ovation and to hugs from teammates.
Left-handers Suryavanshi and Jaiswal raised Rajasthan's highest stand for any wicket in the IPL, and the teenager eclipsed Sanju Samson's record of 10 sixes in an IPL innings for an Indian batter.
“Batting with him [Jaiswal] gives me confidence because he keeps very positive, [and it] becomes easy to bat with him,” Suryavanshi said. He added he doesn't notice the crowds much to "just focus on the ball.”
