Did Rajasthan Royals Discover Something Extraordinary with Vaibhav Suryavanshi?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a 14-year-old cricket talent to watch.
- He scored a century in just 35 balls, making IPL history.
- Rajasthan Royals recognized his potential early on.
- Vikram Rathour played a significant role in nurturing his talent.
- RR's playoff chances are currently slim this season.
New Delhi, April 29 (NationPress) Batting coach Vikram Rathour emphasized that Rajasthan Royals recognized they had discovered something extraordinary when the 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi arrived for trials four months ago.
The young prodigy, who was participating in just his third IPL match, produced one of the most remarkable innings in the league's history, scoring a century off just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT). This achievement marks the second-fastest century in IPL history and the quickest by an Indian.
Confronting a world-class bowling lineup that included Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Karim Janat, and R Sai Kishore, the Bihar-born teenager stunned everyone with an explosive 101 runs off 38 balls.
"We have been observing his talent in the nets over the past few months. Therefore, we were aware of his potential and the variety of shots he could execute. He is an incredibly talented player. Technically, he possesses a superb downswing that allows him to generate significant power. Today, he showcased just how exceptional he is. Honestly, we could discuss that innings endlessly," Rathour expressed during a press conference.
"I first saw him around four months ago during the trials. We all recognized we had come across something rare. It was our responsibility to nurture him and elevate his game. Credit goes to him for maintaining his composure; he has a strong mindset and has proven his capabilities," he added.
Thanks to Vaibhav's outstanding performance, RR successfully chased down a challenging 210-run target in merely 15.5 overs, winning by eight wickets. This achievement marked the fewest overs (15.5) taken to chase a 200+ target in IPL history.
Following a mixed start to the IPL 2025 season, RR currently sits in eighth place on the points table with six points from 10 matches. With four games remaining in the league stage, RR's hopes of advancing to the playoffs are precariously hanging on.