IPL 2025: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Announces ₹10 Lakh For Vaihbav Suryavanshi After 14-Year-Old Shatters Records
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a massive cash prize of ₹10 lakh for scoring a hundred in the IPL 2025 game against the Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Monday. Kumar took to his official handle on X and recalled meeting the youngster in 2024 and hopes he continues to bring more laurels for the country.
Suryavanshi, who struck a 20-ball 34 on his IPL debut, took things to a whole new level during the clash against the Titans on Monday. The teenage prodigy struck a 35-ball 100 against the Titans, becoming the youngest cricketer to smash a ton and half-century in IPL history, doing so at 14 years of age. The 35-ball ton is also the second-fastest in IPL history.
Taking to X, Nitish revealed that he called the left-handed batter to congratulate him over the phone and observed how Indian cricket has discovered a new gem. The veteran politician elaborated:
"Congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Bihar, who became the youngest player (14 years) to score a century in the history of IPL. He has become a new hope for Indian cricket on the strength of his hard work and talent. Everyone is proud of him. I met Mr. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his father in 2024 at 1 Anne Marg and at that time I wished him a bright future. After his brilliant performance in IPL, I also congratulated him over the phone."
"Mr. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young cricketer from Bihar, will also be given an honorarium of Rs 10 lakh by the state government. I wish that Vaibhav creates new records for the Indian team in the future and brings glory to the country."
"We knew what he was capable of and what kind of shots he can play" - Vikram Rathour on Vaibhav Suryavanshi
At the post-game presser, Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour said to see the youngster perform at the biggest stage with such calm and composure was stunning to witness. Rathour said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"We have been watching it in [the] nets the last few months. So we knew what he was capable of and what kind of shots he can play. But to do it in front of this kind of crowd and in a situation like this, against a really good bowling attack, was really special. Saw him maybe four months back when he came for the trials. All of us knew we had found something special."
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