Dehradun/Shimla: At 11, he chose cricket over chaos, discipline over distractions.
When Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed a record-breaking 101 off just 35 balls in his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals, the world stopped and stared.
A boy barely into his teens stunned seasoned international bowlers and rewrote IPL history—becoming the youngest player in men’s T20 cricket to score a century.
Vaibhav is now second to Chris Gail, who had scored century in just 30 balls in IPL.
But his story began far from the stadium lights—in a modest home in Smastipur in Bihar, where his father sold family land to fund his cricket dream when Vaibhav was just 11.
Now living in Prayagraj, Vaibhav's rise has been meteoric.
He's all over Instagram reels, YouTube channels, Facebook pages—his humility and talent have made him a household name not just in India but worldwide.
Youth in Himachal Speak Out: "We see Vaibhav as a symbol of what’s possible if you stay clean and focus," says Satvik Machhan, a student at DAV New Shimla who is pursuing his first passion, Cricket.
"Instead of peer pressure to try drugs or waste time, there’s now pressure to be like Vaibhav—fit, focused, and fearless," adds Daksha Banchta. a school student from Shimla.
Recognizing his powerful influence, the Himachal Pradesh Police has roped in on Vaibhav's instant stardom as a Youth Icon to inspire youngsters to shun drugs and chase bigger goals.
Vaibhav on Social Media:
“No shortcuts. No substances. Just practice, pain, and patience,” Vaibhav posted recently, echoing the very mindset that's earned him millions of followers.
Auto-captioned reels of his IPL century over emotional voiceovers: “From Balia to the Big Leagues”
Interactive Instagram polls: “Would you choose your dream like Vaibhav did at 14?”
3D animated timeline video: Journey from Smastipur to Super IPL using AI-driven storytelling tools like RunwayML
A motivational quote: “Vaibhav says, You can’t chase both dreams and drugs—pick one.”
Will He Stay Grounded?
That’s the question. With brands, influencers, and media houses chasing him, Vaibhav’s challenge isn’t just cricket—it’s balance.
But if his track record of humility and discipline continues, India might just have found its next great cricketer in the line strong lineup, Gavaskar, Kapil, Azar, Ganguli, Rahul, Sachin, Sahwag, Dhoni, Virat, Rohit—not just of cricket, but of youth hearts.
#BeLikeVaibhav
#NoToDrugsYesToDreams
#14AndFearless
#FromBaliaToIPL