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Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has rewritten IPL history with a record-breaking 35-ball century, emerging as the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket and outshining seasoned veterans at three times his age.
The youngster’s explosive batting has propelled Rajasthan Royals to a crucial victory, while across the pitch, 43-year-old MS Dhoni, the oldest player of this season, grapples with a lean season as Chennai Super Kings teeter on the brink of elimination unless they salvage their remaining fixtures.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Suryavanshi
Vaibhav Suryavanshi exploded onto the IPL stage with a 17-ball half-century, the fastest in IPL 2025, against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur.
In just his third IPL innings, the 14-year-old smashed an electrifying 101 runs off only 35 deliveries, marking the second-fastest century in IPL history and the quickest by an Indian, eclipsing Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball record from 2010.
Suryavanshi smashed 11 sixes and seven fours, accumulating 94 runs in boundaries alone. His fearless approach dismantled a seasoned bowling attack, including the likes of Rashid Khan and Mohammed Siraj.
This monumental effort propelled the Royals to chase down a formidable target of 210 in just 15.5 overs, ending their five-match losing streak and reigniting their playoff aspirations.
Records Shattered
Suryavanshi's century has not only set new benchmarks but also broken several records:
- Youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket
- Fastest century by an Indian in IPL history (35 balls)
- Most sixes by an Indian in an IPL innings (11)
- Second-fastest century in IPL history, behind Chris Gayle's 30-ball hundred
The Age Gap: A Tale of Two Generations
Suryavanshi's meteoric rise is further impressive when compared with the seasoned veteran MS Dhoni, who, at 43, is the oldest player in the IPL 2025 season. The age gap of nearly three decades between the two underscores a generational shift in the league.
Despite his legendary status, Dhoni's performance this season has been underwhelming. In the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 25, he managed only 6 runs off 10 balls. Overall, his contributions have been modest, raising questions about his form and the Chennai Super Kings' reliance on his finishing abilities.
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The above comparisons show that perhaps the IPL and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in particular need to seek out younger players who can hammer balls across the boundary with experienced seniors to guide them along.
