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"Diwali Jaldi Aa Gayi" Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Father Reacts To His Historic IPL Ton

Soumyajit Dutta

Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X]

On Monday evening, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into cricket folklore, becoming the youngest centurion in men’s Twenty20 cricket during an IPL clash between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. 

His blistering 35-ball unbeaten century propelled Rajasthan Royals to an emphatic eight-wicket win in Jaipur, igniting euphoric celebrations in his hometown of Samastipur, Bihar, where friends and neighbours lit firecrackers outside his residence.

Vaibhav's Father Proud Of His Son's On-Field Heroics

Vaibhav’s journey mirrors that of his idol, Shubman Gill, with his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, building a cement pitch in their backyard after drawing inspiration from Gill’s childhood training setup.

"Diwali 6 mahine jaldi aa gayi (Diwali came six months early),” an emotional Sanjeev told TimesofIndia.com, reflecting on the festive atmosphere at home. Like Shubman Gill’s father, Sanjeev, a former cricket enthusiast, channeled his unrealised dreams into his son’s career, meticulously nurturing Vaibhav’s talent.

"Vaibhav played an incredible knock in just 35 balls and helped Rajasthan Royals win the match. We are absolutely thrilled with his knock. There is a festive atmosphere in our house," Sanjeev added.

The teenager’s rapid rise includes mentorship from legends like VVS Laxman at the National Cricket Academy and Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Rahul Dravid. 

“Laxman sir monitored his growth for two years. Now, Rahul Dravid sir has taken him under his wing,” shared Vaibhav’s coach, Manish Ojha. 

Coach Lauds Suryavanshi's Prodigy

Signed by the Royals at just 13, Vaibhav’s technical prowess has drawn widespread acclaim. Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour lauded the prodigy, saying,

 “He’s a special, special talent. Technically, he has a great downswing, which helps him generate that kind of power... For a 14-year-old to play like that—that itself is special.”

 Rathour also credited the Royals’ management—Dravid, Vikram Rathour, and Zubin Bharucha—for refining Vaibhav’s game over recent months.

Sanjeev echoed the sentiment, emphasising the franchise’s role. “Yes, he worked hard, but credit goes to the Royals’ management. They nurtured him, and now he’s reaping the rewards.” As Vaibhav’s star continues to rise, his father’s backyard pitch stands as a testament to dreams realized through relentless dedication which will shine through in his upcoming matches too.