Ravi Shastri Tips 14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for India Call-Up After Record Century

Ravi Shastri Predicts Bright Future for 14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi After Record-Breaking Century

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has showered praise on Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old batting prodigy, suggesting he could soon be fast-tracked into the senior national team.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the young cricket sensation.

Suryavanshi grabbed headlines with a blistering 143 off just 78 balls in the fourth Youth ODI against England U-19. His innings propelled India to a formidable total of 363 for 9. The whirlwind knock included 13 boundaries and 10 towering sixes, highlighted by a record-breaking 52-ball century. This feat marks the fastest century in Youth ODI history, surpassing Kamran Ghulam's 53-ball effort from 2013.

While commentating on Day 4 of the second Test between India and England at Edgbaston, Shastri remarked on the impact of tournaments like the IPL: "He [Suryavanshi] will play First-Class cricket, but that’s what the IPL does. It gives you that platform. The whole country sees you. And you catch the imagination of everyone.”

Shastri was forthright about Suryavanshi's potential trajectory: “It will fast-track him if he goes and plays First-Class cricket, goes and gets a couple of hundreds in his first couple of seasons.”

The left-handed batsman from Samastipur, Bihar, now holds the record as the youngest centurion in Youth ODIs at 14 years and 100 days. He eclipsed the previous record held by Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored a century at 14 years and 241 days back in 2013.

Suryavanshi has also surpassed the Indian record previously held by Sarfaraz Khan, who achieved the feat at 15 years and 338 days.

Earlier this year, Suryavanshi garnered national attention during the IPL. He smashed a 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, marking the fastest century by an Indian in the league’s history.

“He has already caught the eyes; already made it to the Under-19 team at the age of 14. Smacking it everywhere,” Shastri added. “And it’s tours like this to England, with this exposure - he can only improve.”

India U-19 currently leads the five-match Youth ODI series 3-1. Suryavanshi is now being hailed as a generational talent with a potentially swift path to Indian cricket stardom.