Vaibhav Suryavanshi Scores Record SMAT Century at 14

Patna, December 2: For most of the afternoon, you could feel the winter sun losing its strength over Patna. The pitch looked dry, almost impatient. And in the middle of all that, a boy who should realistically have been doing homework or arguing with friends over football took guard and played an innings that left older professionals exchanging glances they could not quite hide.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, all of fourteen, finished with 108 not out off 61 balls for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26. A clean, unfussy hundred with 7 sixes and 7 fours, and a total of 176 for 3 for his side. No one expected him to make history today. Somehow he did.

Youngest Centurion In SMAT History

Nobody around the ground seemed to process it right away. The moment he crossed three figures, a few of the Maharashtra fielders actually paused as if waiting for an umpire signal. Only after a couple of seconds did the applause start stretching around the stadium.

India Today reported that he reached the mark in 58 balls, which feels about right for the kind of tempo he kept. Not hurried, not cautious, just steady. Jagran recorded the obvious next step: he is now the youngest ever to bring up a century in this tournament. You do not often see someone barely in their teens bossing a national T20 stage.

There is more. This was his third T20 century, a detail that almost sounds like a printing error until you remember what he pulled off in the IPL earlier this year. That 35-ball hundred for the Rajasthan Royals had already placed him in a strange corner of cricketing conversation, and The Indian Express noted today that this SMAT ton arrived in just his fifth match for Bihar.

What This Means For Bihar

If you’ve followed Bihar cricket even loosely, you know the story. Long roads. Old politics. Patchy infrastructure. Occasional flashes that get drowned out by bigger states with stronger systems. So when a teenager from their own fold does something like this on a national stage, it is not just pride. It is a reminder that the talent pool here has always been deeper than the opportunities.

Coaches speaking to outlets carried by sources like Aaj Tak hinted at the same sentiment. They spoke of training sessions on uneven pitches, borrowed nets, improvised routines, and a boy who did not complain much. Today’s hundred felt like their victory too, not just his.

A Teenager In A World Built For Adults

Suryavanshi was born on March 27, 2011. That alone sets the mind running. Most of the bowlers he faced today had been playing competitive cricket before he even learned how to grip a proper bat. Yet he walked in with a sense of calm that NDTV Sports highlighted, pointing out how rarely he looked rattled.

There is, however, an unspoken concern around child prodigies in Indian cricket. We have seen remarkable talent bloom early and then disappear just as quickly. Questions about workload, mental pressure, education, and expectations tend to follow young players faster than the praise. The people managing him will need to get all of this right.

SMAT Just Found A New Story

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has produced several breakout names over the years, but this one feels different. Zee News called it a “historic moment” not just for Bihar but for the tournament. There is something about a 14-year-old taking senior professionals apart that gives selectors and scouts no choice but to pay attention.

Realistically, he is still far from the senior India radar. But it would not be surprising if he becomes part of the India Under-19 conversation sooner than planned.

IPL Shadow And The Road Ahead

The IPL 2025 changed the way people looked at him. That audacious century for the Rajasthan Royals was not just about power hitting. Analysts from OneCricket pointed out his balance at the crease, the way he reads slower balls early, and how he does not panic when the field spreads.

But raw attention can be dangerous. Ask any senior player and they will tell you the same thing. Cricket can grow you quickly and drain you even quicker. Someone around him will have to slow down the noise, reduce the travel, and remind him he is still years away from the battles that define long careers.

A Day That Felt Bigger Than The Score

Inside the Bihar camp, the celebrations were messy and warm. One player lifted him by the shoulders. Another ruffled his hair while he tried to look serious for the cameras. There was the odd laugh that comes out only when relief mixes with pride.

As he walked back at the end, the light fading behind the stands, Suryavanshi looked around with the expression of someone trying to capture the moment before it vanished. He will have other days like this. Maybe bigger ones. Maybe tougher ones. But this one felt like the day the rest of the country finally stopped and looked at him properly.

It is going to be talked about for a while.

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Prakash Nair

Senior Sports Journalist – Prakash@hindustanherald.in – Web

Sports reporter covering cricket, football, and Olympic disciplines, with on-ground event experience.

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