14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 42-Ball Firework Shocks Asia Cup

Bihar's Vaibhav Suryavanshi Re-writes History with 42-Ball Blitzkrieg in Asia Cup Rising Stars

ESPNcricinfo

The cricketing world holds its breath as a new prodigy from Bihar announces his explosive arrival on the continental stage. Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, already a known name in domestic circuits, unleashed a stunning display of power hitting in the Asia Cup Rising Stars, smashing his way into the record books and earning comparisons to some of India's biggest legends.

An Innings For the Ages: From Golden Duck to Global Sensation

Cricket, as they say, is a game of fine margins, and few moments illustrate this better than the one that kicked off Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historic knock. Facing the first ball of India A’s opening game against UAE, the young opener was handed a life when UAE captain Alishan Sharafu grassed a simple chance at cover. It was a dropped golden duck that instantly turned into a nightmare for the opposition.

Capitalising ruthlessly on the 'life' he was granted, the 14-year-old left-hander went ballistic, registering a phenomenal 144 runs off just 42 balls for India A. His century came in a mere 32 deliveries, catapulting him to the status of joint-second-fastest T20 centurion among all Indian batsmen.

The statistics are staggering: Suryavanshi slammed 11 boundaries but reserved his best for the skies, depositing the ball over the ropes 15 times. Finishing with a strike rate of 342.85, the innings was a hurricane of clean strikes and raw, untamed power. As UAE Head Coach Lalchand Rajput candidly admitted, "Suryavanshi's knock was electrifying. It was a brilliant, top-notch innings. He has plenty of raw power, so even his mishits were going for sixes.”

From Ranji to Rohit: Coaches Heap Praise on the Sehwag-Esque Talent

Suryavanshi is no stranger to headlines, having already etched his name as the youngest man to score a T20 century during his IPL stint. Yet, this particular blitzkrieg drew unprecedented excitement from his mentors, who see a clear path to the national team.

Vinayak Samant, the Bihar Ranji coach, was quick to predict a glittering future. “He’s a very special and talented cricketer. He’ll definitely play for India, maybe at some stage next year itself, in white-ball cricket—especially in T20Is,” Samant asserted confidently.

The high praise didn't stop there. Samant noted the duality of the young batsman's style: "His talent reminds me of a young Rohit Sharma, though his batting style is more in the mould of Virendra Sehwag, who will attack any ball pitched wide of the stumps." Samant also highlighted the youngster's focus, noting how even after IPL success, his commitment to the domestic game mirrored the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. "He's still very down-to-earth," the coach added warmly, praising his commitment to the Bihar Ranji side.

A Measured Note of Caution

While the compliments flowed, there was a measured perspective from the IPL camp. Zubin Bharucha, High-Performance Director at Rajasthan Royals, acknowledged the effort but tempered the euphoria. Bharucha observed that while Suryavanshi successfully punished the "pathetic" bowling, his game still requires refinement. "His back-foot play needs a lot more work, as the better bowlers will target that," Bharucha noted, ensuring the 14-year-old keeps his feet firmly on the ground while his shots soar over the fence.

The cricketing fraternity will be watching closely as Vaibhav Suryavanshi transitions from a 'Rising Star' to a global phenomenon. His extraordinary innings in Doha mark not just a historic T20 record, but the explosive arrival of India's next potential superstar.