Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 14-year-old Rajasthan Royals batting prodigy, stunned the cricket world with a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 — becoming the youngest player to achieve the milestone. The whirlwind innings made headlines across the globe and left the youngster flooded with over 500 missed calls, forcing him to switch off his phone to escape the attention.
Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking century sparks instant fame
Thrust into the spotlight, Sooryavanshi’s dream debut IPL season saw him score 252 runs in 7 matches at a blistering strike rate of 206.56 and an average of 36.00. His hundred against Gujarat Titans not only rewrote the record books but made him an overnight sensation.
“I was practising hard for three to four months and the results showed. My weaknesses improved and that made things easier for me during matches,” Sooryavanshi told head coach Rahul Dravid in a video posted by the IPL website.
‘I switched off my phone’ — avoiding the limelight
Despite the overwhelming attention, Sooryavanshi remains grounded. Reflecting on the chaos that followed his milestone, he revealed how he handled the sudden fame:
“There were more than 500 missed calls but I switched off the phone. A lot of people approached me after the century. I kept my phone switched off for two to four days as I don’t like having too many people around. Just my family and a few friends, that’s enough.”
Composed finish to the season vs Chennai Super Kings
Sooryavanshi capped off the season with a composed 57 off 33 balls in Rajasthan Royals’ final match — a six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings. The innings showcased a different side of his game, adapting his style to match the team’s needs during a chase.
“I learned to be focused and that I need to play according to the situation that the team is in to help them win,” he said. “At this level, it is important to focus on your own strengths and help the team win according to the situation.”
Dravid’s message: stay sharp, next year gets tougher
Rahul Dravid, the Rajasthan Royals head coach, praised Sooryavanshi’s breakthrough IPL season but offered a reminder that success brings greater scrutiny.
“Well done, very good season, continue to work hard and remember that you’ve done well this year, which means all these bowlers will return better prepared to bowl to you next year. So you also need to prepare more and develop your skills,” Dravid advised.
With maturity beyond his years and a historic IPL century already in the books, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket — and one to watch closely in the seasons ahead.
