Tharoor Calls for National Selection of Remarkable Youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has sparked a lively discussion in the realm of Indian cricket by drawing a bold comparison between 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India to expedite Suryavanshi’s entry into the national team.

Following Suryavanshi’s outstanding performance at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Tharoor took to X, hailing the youngster’s extraordinary skills. “The last time we saw such a prodigious 14-year-old talent, it was Sachin Tendulkar, and we all know his trajectory. Why wait? Vaibhav Suryavanshi for India!” he wrote, tagging senior figures in Indian cricket.

Historic Century at Just 14

Suryavanshi left the cricket community in awe during Bihar’s Plate League match against Arunachal Pradesh on December 24. At the young age of 14 years and 272 days, he became the youngest player to register a century in men’s List A cricket. His landmark century, the first non-T20 century in senior cricket, came off just 36 deliveries, marking it as the fourth-fastest List A century by an Indian.

In only his seventh List A match, the prodigy surpassed the three-figure mark, ultimately scoring an impressive 190 off 84 balls with 16 fours and 15 sixes, at a remarkable strike rate of 226.19.

Remarkably, he also broke AB de Villiers’ long-held record for the fastest 150 in men’s List A cricket, reaching the milestone in only 59 balls.

A Historic Team Achievement

Bihar accrued a phenomenal total of 574/6, marking the highest score ever registered in List A cricket. Captain Sakibul Gani contributed an unbeaten 128 off 40 balls, while Ayush Loharuka added a swift 116 off 56 deliveries. Arunachal Pradesh was bowled out for 177, resulting in a staggering 398-run victory for Bihar.

Consistency Shines Through

Wednesday’s innings was not a mere fluke. Earlier this month, Suryavanshi scored an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls versus Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at Eden Gardens, becoming the tournament’s youngest centurion.

At youth level, his performances have been equally remarkable. During the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai, he struck 171 off 95 balls against the UAE, narrowly missing Ambati Rayudu’s long-standing Indian youth one-day record. He subsequently achieved a century against Australia Under-19 in a Youth Test in Brisbane.

Accelerating Career Growth

Suryavanshi’s trajectory rapidly ascended in 2025 when he became the youngest player to be auctioned in the IPL at merely 13. He subsequently scored a blistering maiden IPL century with 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans, finishing IPL 2025 with 252 runs in seven matches and an impressive strike rate of 206.55.

Since then, the young talent has maintained his momentum, excelling on youth tours of England and Australia, compiling 355 runs in England at a strike rate of 174.01. Across 15 youth ODIs, he averages above 51, with two centuries and three half-centuries.

With performances that defy age and comparisons now made to the greatest in the game, Suryavanshi’s rapid ascent places him at the forefront of conversations surrounding India’s cricketing future.