‘We didn’t have even 10% of what Vaibhav Suryavanshi has at 14’ - Venkatesh Iyer backs batting prodigy as India’s next big T20 star [Exclusive]

Published - 18 Nov 2025, 19:38 IST | Updated - 18 Nov 2025, 19:38 IST

Venkatesh Iyer hailed 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the next big T20 sensation for India. Iyer noted that at 14, most youngsters in the country do not possess even a fraction of the talent that Suryavanshi displays. Iyer noted that his praise for Suryavanshi was not just because of his young age, but also for his extraordinary ability to strike the ball with ease and maintain a high strike rate.

Suryavanshi’s rise in cricket has been meteoric. At just 13, he became the youngest player to be picked in the IPL auction, securing a deal with Rajasthan Royals (RR) worth INR 1.1 crore. His IPL debut came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he smashed Shardul Thakur for a maximum on his first delivery and ended the innings with a quickfire 34 off 20 balls.

The left-handed prodigy soon etched his name in history. At 14, he became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket, scoring 101 off just 38 balls for RR against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Jaipur during IPL 2025. His century, coming off 35 balls, was the second fastest in IPL history and featured several records in a single innings.

Suryavanshi has also showcased his skills on the international youth stage. Representing India Under-19, he scored a 58-ball century in a four-day match against Australia Under-19. Additionally, he boasts a triple-century to his name, an unbeaten 332 in the Randhir Verma Tournament, a U-19 competition in Bihar.

Which young Indian batter do you believe is primed to become the next big T20 player, and why?

I could say Angkrish Raghuvanshi. But it is very difficult to not say Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The whole world knows that there is a 14-year-old prodigy who hits sixes for fun. I don't want to jinx that. I feel he is way more talented than 90% [of] people in this country who were 14.

When we were all 14, we did not have even 10% of the talent that he has. So, I think Vaibhav Suryavanshi is someone who I feel can be the next big thing for Indian cricket. And I just don't say this because he has a lot of time on his hands. But for the pure ability to strike the ball, which he has.