The 14-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit a breathtaking century in the Indian Premier League and one of the greatest innings in men’s Twenty20 cricket history.
Just nine days after becoming the youngest debutant 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 years.
He got there in just 35 balls by pulling Gujarat Titans spinner Rashid Khan for a six over midwicket, and sending the Rajasthan Royals’ packed home crowd in Jaipur to their feet yet again.
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Of the 100 runs, an incredible 94 came off boundaries. He hit 11 sixes and seven boundaries.
Teammates have spoken glowingly of the 14-year-old. IPL
“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.
But the 166-run opening stand between he and Yashasvi Jaiswal, 70 not out off 40 balls, propelled Rajasthan to a remarkable rundown of Gujarat’s imposing 4-209 with 25 balls to spare.
Rajasthan made 2-212, winning for only the third time in 10 games to stay in playoffs 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 Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Washington Sundar.
The teenager smacked Sharma for three sixes and two fours in one over and clubbed spinner Sundar for two sixes and a four to raise this IPL’s fastest half-century off a mere 17 balls.
Suryavanshi raced to 94 when he hammered Afghanistan fast bowler Karim Janat for three sixes and three fours in Janat’s first over in the IPL, and raised the hundred against the great 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 GT has, (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.
Only West Indies great Chris Gayle has hit an IPL hundred in less balls, 30, and that was 12 years ago.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna finally clean-bowled Suryavanshi, who left 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.
Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Suryavanshi celebrates after scoring a century. AP
“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.”
Rajasthan batting coach Vikram Rathour told reporters in the post-match press conference. “We’ve been watching it in nets for last few months.
“We knew what he’s capable of and what kind of shots he can play. But to do it in front of this kind of crowd and in a situation like this, against a really, really good bowling attack, I think it was really special.”
“As I said, he’s a special, special talent,” Rathour added. “He’s got a great downswing if you want to go into technique, in technical stuff, he’s got a great downswing. So that helps him generate this kind of power. And today, he just showed everybody actually how good he is.”
Rathour also gave a glimpse into the teenager’s mindset during practice. “He is one guy who takes on Jofra [Archer] in the nets,” Rathour said.
“Jofra is maybe one of the toughest bowlers to face in the nets because he is so awkward and he bowls quick. But he is the one who really bats against him and really takes him on.”
