Rajasthan Royals’ performance in IPL 2025 was less than stellar, winning only four out of 14 matches and finishing second last in the league. However, the emergence of a promising young player, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, offered a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing campaign.
On Tuesday, the 14-year-old Suryavanshi captured attention with an impressive innings, scoring 57 runs off 33 balls against Chennai Super Kings. Despite participating in only seven matches this season, he accumulated 252 runs with an astonishing strike rate of 206.55, showcasing his talent with a hundred from just 35 balls in his third IPL game.
Cricket analyst Aakash Chopra commented on Suryavanshi’s development on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show: “Initially when you saw him, you thought he might just be a slogger who sees the ball and hits it. But he’s shown maturity. Watching him wait at the non-striker’s end, allowing Yashasvi Jaiswal to hit, shows he’s starting to think about his game.”
Chopra elaborated on Suryavanshi’s growing patience and strategic approach, citing his play against bowlers Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh: “He had a plan—play it safe if short but hit if it’s in range. It shows there is some maturity already.”
As the IPL season concludes for Suryavanshi, Sanjay Bangar, another respected voice in cricket, advises a focus away from distractions. “The real challenge for him would be to deal with non-cricketing matters and avoid the hype and hoopla. That is a major challenge,” Bangar noted.
Bangar emphasised the importance of staying true to his natural game: “Can he maintain his game plan? He has apparent talent, whether god-gifted or through hard work, and he needs to stay true to it. Suggestions will come, but those skills will develop with experience.”
The young talent’s ability to play both spin and pace with equal competence impressed many, with varied shots, including over-the-covers and off-side drives, rounding out a well-executed innings.
Suryavanshi’s talent offers a glimpse into a promising future, as experts and fans watch to see how this young cricketer navigates the challenges ahead, balancing innate skill with the demands of professional cricket.
