Vaibhav Suryavanshi's rollercoaster journey in cricket continued during Rajasthan Royals' IPL 2025 home game against Mumbai Indians. Just three days after making a sensational impact by scoring a blistering 101 from 38 balls, the 14-year-old found himself back in the pavilion without scoring. In an unexpected turn of events, Vaibhav was dismissed for a two-ball duck in Rajasthan's chase of 218.
The young sensation had made headlines earlier in the tournament with his aggressive batting display, where he helped Rajasthan chase down 210 in just 15.5 overs, with 11 sixes and seven boundaries. His rapid rise to fame included becoming the youngest player to score a century in T20 history, cementing his status as one of the most exciting prospects in world cricket.
However, on Thursday, Vaibhav's form deserted him. In the very first over of Rajasthan's chase, he faced a yorker from Mumbai's Deepak Chahar, and while he successfully dug out the first delivery, he failed to get under the next one. Chahar's delivery was fuller-length, and Vaibhav tried to clear the mid-on fielder but only managed to get caught by Will Jacks, who positioned himself well inside the 30-yard circle.
The crowd in Jaipur, which had erupted in excitement when Vaibhav took strike, fell silent as the young batter walked back with a blank look, reflecting his disappointment. It was a stark contrast to his previous match, where he had been the toast of the town. His unfortunate dismissal meant he joined a rare club of IPL players who got out for a duck after scoring a hundred in the previous innings. Vaibhav became the sixth batter in IPL history to experience this, joining the ranks of cricketing stalwarts like Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Ishan Kishan.
Head coach Rahul Dravid, who had spoken just a day before about the importance of young players managing their highs and lows in cricket, was visibly disheartened. For Vaibhav, this marked his first single-digit score in IPL 2025, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the game and the challenge of staying grounded, especially at such a young age.
Vaibhav, who hails from Bihar, is already recognized as one of India's most prodigious cricketing talents. His early achievements, such as becoming the youngest player to secure an IPL contract and his debut for Bihar at just 12, have set numerous records. His ability to handle pressure and bounce back from setbacks will likely define his future in the game.
