April 29, 2025: Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja was left awestruck by 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s record-breaking century for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, calling it a watershed moment that could reshape how young talent is viewed in Indian cricket. Speaking on JioHotstar, Jadeja said the teenager’s fearless and technically sound knock felt like a “dream being lived out on the biggest stage.”
Suryavanshi’s stunning 38-ball 101 in Jaipur — the fastest IPL century by an Indian and second only to Chris Gayle’s iconic 30-ball ton — left cricket fans and experts in awe. “Some of the shots he played, you have to first dream of them before you can execute them,” Jadeja said. “His mindset is special. Just like Dhoni’s arrival gave belief to kids from small towns, this moment could change how 14-15-year-olds across India imagine their journey.”
Jadeja highlighted how Suryavanshi’s mental strength was as impressive as his strokeplay, recalling the young batter’s emotional reaction after scoring 30 in his debut match, only to quickly bounce back. “To overcome those emotions and play like this just a couple of games later… that’s the mark of something rare.”
The left-handed batter’s audacious strokeplay dismantled seasoned bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna. From launching towering sixes to expertly placing shots through the off-side, Suryavanshi showed maturity beyond his years. A standout moment was his back-foot six over long-off off a slower ball from Prasidh — a shot Jadeja described as “absolutely incredible.”
Reflecting on Suryavanshi’s performance in context, Jadeja said, “We’ve had prodigies like Sachin and Parthiv, but they came through domestic cricket. This boy just walked into the IPL and took down the best bowlers around.”
Choking up slightly, Jadeja concluded: “I don’t have the vocabulary to fully explain what I felt. Every cricketer has dreamt of such moments. Vaibhav didn’t just dream — he lived it out in front of the world. Indian cricket won’t be the same again.”