PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who became the youngest ever player to score a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Playing for Rajasthan Royals in an ongoing IPL T20 match, Vaibhav stunned the crowd by scoring 101 runs in just 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. He reached his century in only 35 balls, marking the second-fastest ton in IPL history, and led his team to a memorable victory.
The match was held at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur late on Monday, where Vaibhav smashed 11 sixes and seven fours during his extraordinary innings.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar congratulated the young cricketer over the phone and later shared his praise on social media. In a post on X, he wrote, “Congratulations and best wishes to Mr Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Bihar, who became the youngest player (14 years) to score a century in the history of IPL. He has become a new hope for Indian cricket through his hard work and talent.”
Nitish also recalled meeting Vaibhav and his father in 2024. “Everyone is proud of him. I met him and his father in 2024 at 1 Anne Marg, where I wished him a bright future,” he added.
He further said that he spoke with Vaibhav over the phone and encouraged him to “set new records for the Indian team in future and bring glory to the country.”
Vaibhav’s uncle, Rajiv Suryavanshi, said the teenager had brought laurels not only to the family but also to Bihar and the nation. “We are pleased with his exceptional performance during Monday’s match in Jaipur where he created history,” he said.
His cousin, Vishal Kumar, expressed joy after hearing about Vaibhav’s stellar show. “We hope he will soon be included in the Indian cricket team and play for India,” he told this reporter over the phone on Tuesday.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Union Minister and LJP (RV) chief Chirag Paswan also praised Vaibhav’s talent. “Such a magnificent start at such a young age. His future is extremely bright,” said Chirag.
The recognition and encouragement received by Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his exceptional talent is seen by many as an inspiration for young athletes in Bihar.