Rajasthan Royals’ Indian batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi on Monday became the youngest to score a senior T20 century at 14 years and 32 days with his match-winning innings against Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Left-hand batsman Suryavanshi, who on 19 April at Indore became the youngest debutant in the IPL, slammed 100 from 35 balls to rape the opposition attack with seven in fours and 11 in sixes at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Suryavanshi erased the previous mark of 18 years and 118 days which was also set in an Indian domestic match when Vijay Zol of Maharashtra achieved the feat against Mumbai in 2013.
Suryavanshi’s ton is the second fastest in the T20 extravaganza after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013.
The 19-year-old wonderkid was finally out bowled to the fast bowler Prasidh Krishna for 101 off 38 balls and walked back to a standing ovation from both the home crowd and the team dugout.
“In this IPL, to score a century is like a dream. It feels really good. It was my first hundred in the IPL in my third innings. What I’ve been working on for the last 3-4 months, its paying off,” the youngester said.
His opening stand of 166 with fellow left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal formed the basis of his team’s pursuit of 210. They reached their target with 25 balls and eight wickets to spare.
Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 70 and was involved in an unbroken stand of 41 with stand-in-captain Riyan Parag, who hit the winning six in his 15-ball 32.
“I don’t really look at the ground as much, just look at the ball. “Batting with him (Jaiswal) gives me so much confidence, because he remains so positive and keeps giving me tips, so it makes it easier to bat with him,” Suryavanshi said.
Suryavanshi’s masterclass overshadowed everything else including opposition knocks by Gujarat captain Shubman Gill (84) and Jos Buttler (50 not out).
Gujarat made 209-4, but the total did not stand the thrash from Suryavanshi. He smashed Afghanistan pacer Karim Janat for three fours and three sixes in a 30-run over.
Gujarat are placed third on the 10-team table with six wins from nine matches.
Rajasthan, whose road to the top four remains mathematically difficult, remained seventh with three wins and seven losses.
“We were just talking about how can we finish this early, bat with some real intent, it came off. Big (confidence) booster that, we were looking out for this win, now it is all about taking it match-by-match,” Parag had said.