Vaibhav Suryavanshi didn’t just break into IPL 2025, he stormed in, rewriting records and raising eyebrows. At just 14, his performance for the Rajasthan Royals made him the youngest sensation in IPL history, and his meteoric rise has left fans, pundits, and legends of the game wondering just how high this young star can soar.
The story began during the 2025 IPL mega auction, when Vaibhav, 13 then, became the youngest cricketer ever shortlisted. A bidding war ensued between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, with the Royals clinching him for Rs 1.1 crore. His selection was not just a nod to potential, but a recognition of readiness.
He debuted against Lucknow Super Giants at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, smashing a six off the very first delivery he faced, from Shardul Thakur. It was a statement of intent that set the tone for the rest of his time in the elite competition.
Over seven matches, Vaibhav racked up 252 runs at an average of 36 and a staggering strike rate of 206.5, forming a formidable opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
But the defining knock came on April 28 against Gujarat Titans, when he etched his name in cricketing history books. Vaibhav not only became the youngest to score a century in men’s T20 cricket but also registered the fastest hundred by an Indian in IPL history — reaching the milestone in just 35 balls.
His composed 57 off 33 balls against Chennai Super Kings, earned praises from legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Matthew Hayden, who hailed him as the “future of Indian cricket”.
Vaibhav was born on March 27, 2011, in Tajpur, a small village in Bihar’s Samastipur district. His father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a farmer and part-time journalist, was instrumental in nurturing Vaibhav’s cricketing dreams. By four, Vaibhav was already crafting shots in their backyard. His father built a practice pitch and invited local bowlers to bowl to him to enable the kid to hone his skills and sharpen his reflexes.
By seven, Vaibhav had joined an academy in Samastipur and, by nine, he was training at the Gennex Cricket Academy in Patna, often travelling 90km for practice sessions. As the dust settles on IPL 2025, all eyes are on the 14-year-old prodigy. With expectations now riding on his young shoulders, the cricketing sensation has shown that he has the grit and grounding to carry the weight and elevate his game.
Meet India’s next smash-hit shuttler
At 18 years old, Anmol Kharb is no longer warming up — she’s stepped onto centre court as a game changer for Indian badminton. Her meteoric rise has been marked by resilience, technical brilliance and a never-say-die attitude reminiscent of her idol Saina Nehwal.
Anmol’s pivotal role in India’s historic gold medal at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships, coupled with her recent international title wins, has firmly placed her on the sport’s radar as a rising ace.
Born on Jan 20, 2007, in Faridabad, Haryana, Anmol was introduced to the sport by her elder brother Hardik, who played at the school level.
Recognising her potential, her family — especially her mother, Rajbala — proved to be a steadfast support system. Her mother even moved to Noida with Anmol so that she could train at the Sunrise Shuttlers Academy under coach Kusumm Singh, a former national player and contemporary of Nehwal and Ashwini Ponnappa.
By 12, she had already claimed the U-17 All-India Ranking title and was soon selected for the Khelo India scheme. Her ascent continued as she won both the singles and doubles U-17 national titles in 2020. Her real breakthrough came in 2023, when she won the senior national championship in Guwahati. Last year was a defining one for Anmol.
She led the women’s team as India clinched its maiden gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Malaysia. Anmol delivered under pressure, sealing three crucial matches against toptier opponents, beating China’s Wu Luo Yu, Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira, and Thailand’s Pornpicha Choeikeewong.
Anmol’s impressive performances continued on the international circuit. Last year, she won consecutive women’s singles titles at the Belgian International and the Polish International, beating strong European opponents. She also had to overcome off-court hurdles as she arrived just an hour before the Belgian match due to delays in visa processing.
Focus, adaptability and nerves of steel — Anmol brings it all to the court.
With Nehwal possibly retiring soon and P V Sindhu’s form fluctuating, Indian badminton has been searching for its next singles star. And Anmol may just be the new champ India’s been waiting for.
