NEW DELHI — In the summer of 2025, a 14-year-old left-hander from Samastipur, Bihar, did something no teenager had ever done: he turned the Indian Premier League (IPL) into his personal playground. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, signed by Rajasthan Royals for a staggering ₹1.1 crore, didn’t just participate; he dominated.
From hitting a six off his first-ever ball in the league against Shardul Thakur to smashing a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, Suryavanshi has forced the world to ask: Have we found the next Sachin Tendulkar?
1. The Record-Breaking 2025 Season
Suryavanshi’s maiden IPL stint was nothing short of a cinematic debut. Under the mentorship of head coach Rahul Dravid, the youngster displayed a level of “brash fearlessness” that left even seasoned veterans like Jos Buttler stunned.
| Record Category | Achievement |
| Youngest IPL Debutant | 14 years, 23 days (vs LSG, April 19, 2025) |
| Youngest IPL Centurion | 101 off 38 balls (vs GT, April 28, 2025) |
| Fastest IPL 100 (Indian) | 35 balls (2nd fastest overall after Chris Gayle) |
| Domestic Milestone | Youngest List A Centurion (190 off 84 balls for Bihar) |
2. The SENA Dominance & U19 Exploits
While the IPL made him a household name, Suryavanshi proved he wasn’t a “flat-track bully.” Over the latter half of 2025, he took his explosive game to the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations:
- Australia: Smashed a 78-ball Youth Test century in Brisbane, emulating Brendon McCullum as the only player with two Youth Test tons at a strike rate over 100.
- England: Recorded the fastest Youth ODI century by an Indian (52 balls).
- Six-Hitting Machine: He recently broke Unmukt Chand’s record for the most career sixes in Youth ODIs (surpassing 39 sixes).
3. The Sachin Tendulkar Comparison: Fair or Flawed?
As the hype reaches a fever pitch, the “Next Sachin” tag has inevitably emerged. However, cricket purists suggest caution.
The Parallels:
- Precocious Start: Both debuted in first-class cricket at 12–13 years old.
- Fearlessness: Sachin took on Akram and Younis at 16; Suryavanshi took on Siraj and Rashid Khan at 14.
The Differences:
- Format: Sachin’s legend was forged in the fire of Test cricket. Suryavanshi’s success, while brilliant, has primarily come in white-ball formats where he looks to “tee off” from ball one.
- Temperament: Critics point out that Suryavanshi struggled in high-pressure games, such as the U19 Asia Cup Final, where his high-risk approach failed to provide the stability needed for big finals.
4. The Verdict: Brash Power vs. Technical Perfection
If Sachin Tendulkar was the definition of technical perfection and the “straight drive,” Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the face of the T20 generation—defined by high backlifts, massive downswings, and an “all-or-nothing” attitude.
While he may not be the “next Sachin” in terms of style, he is undoubtedly the first Vaibhav Suryavanshi—a player who has redefined what a 14-year-old is capable of achieving at the senior level.