Rahul Dravid has always been one of the most measured cricketers around, even during his playing days. But the elder stateman, who is the head coach of the Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League, could not help himself and jumped out of his wheelchair as the 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored a century in 35 balls on the way to helping RR chase down Gujarat Titans’ target of 210 runs on Monday. In fact, a video from the IPL broadcaster showed Dravid initially stumbling as he got off his wheelchair. After composing himself, Dravid celebrated with gusto that is uncharacteristic.
Dravid has been wheelchair bound — or has used crutches — for the entirety of the IPL 2025 season after injuring his leg while playing backyard cricket in Bengaluru. During IPL games, he has turned up at stadiums around the country on his wheelchair as he recovers from the injury to his leg.
But Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s century made him forget all that momentarily.
Youngest to score a T20 1⃣0⃣0⃣ ✅
Fastest TATA IPL hundred by an Indian ✅
Second-fastest hundred in TATA IPL ✅Vaibhav Suryavanshi, TAKE. A. BOW 🙇 ✨
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2025
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What was the big deal about Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s century?
The 14-year-old scored the second fastest century in IPL history, after Chris Gayle’s 30-ball 100 in 2013. he also raced away to a 50 in just 17 balls. Suryavanshi’s half century, in fact, is the fastest of the IPL 2025. At the age of 14 years and 32 days, Suryavanshi is the youngest half centurion in IPL history, edging stand-in Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag by more than three years and regular RR skipper Sanju Samson by over four years.
On Monday, Suryavanshi struck seven boundaries and smashed 11 sixes against a bowling attack that had the likes of Mohammad Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, and Washington Sundar. The 36-year-old Ishant was hit for 28 runs in a single over, while Afghan debutant Karim Janat was smashed for 30 runs by Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
So devastating was Suryavanshi’s century that it completely overshadowed Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a 40-ball 70 at a strike rate of 175.
READ MORE: How VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid nurtured world record smasher Vaibhav Suryavanshi
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What did Vaibhav Suryavanshi say after the match?
At the post-match presentation ceremony, former India cricketer Murali Karthik asked him if he felt that the century will put a target on his back.
“No, no fear. I’m not thinking about all that, I am just focusing on playing,” said the 14-year-old.
