India‘s cricket landscape gained a shining beacon as 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 25, 2025, during the Veer Baal Diwas celebrations.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives Bal Puraskar from President Droupadi Murmu
The left-handed opener from Bihar, born on March 27, 2011, in Tajpur village of Samastipur district, skipped a Vijay Hazare Trophy match to attend the ceremony, where the President lauded his record-shattering exploits in a “highly competitive world of cricket,” urging other children to emulate him. Following the event, Suryavanshi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking another milestone in his meteoric rise amid national recognition for youthful excellence in sports.
President Murmu, while presenting the award, praised his commitment and achievements, saying that such young talents “inspire hope for a brighter future in Indian sports.” PM too, expressed confidence that Vaibhav will “shine on the global stage.” This dual recognition underscores the government’s support toward nurturing young sporting excellence.
Here’s the video:
Meet the newest recipient of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for children. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 👏👏💗 pic.twitter.com/2gr8N64ToP
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) December 26, 2025
Also READ: Top 5 youngest centurions in List A cricket ft. Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Record-breaking exploits of Suryavanshi fuel national pride
Suryavanshi’s journey from Bihar’s dusty fields to global headlines stems from relentless family support—his father Sanjeev sold farmland to fund training at academies in Samastipur and Patna, while his mother prepared early meals for gruelling 5-6 hour sessions. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 23, 2025, he blazed 190 off 84 balls (16 fours, 15 sixes) against Arunachal Pradesh, claiming the fastest List A 150 in 54 balls—eclipsing AB de Villiers—and becoming the youngest List A centurion at 14 years and 272 days with a 36-ball ton. Earlier, his unbeaten 108 off 61 balls (7 fours, 7 sixes) versus Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on December 2 made him the tournament’s youngest centurion.
His T20 fireworks include a 35-ball IPL century (101 off 38) for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in 2025, the fastest by an Indian and youngest T20 ton ever, plus three T20 hundreds by age 14. In the U-19 Asia Cup, he hammered 171 off 95 balls (14 sixes) against UAE, shattering youth ODI records for most sixes in an innings and tournament. Now set to join India U-19 for the World Cup in Zimbabwe starting January 15, 2026, skipping remaining Vijay Hazare games, Suryavanshi embodies grit that redefines prodigies. His feats—cleared of age disputes via medical tests—ignite dreams for small-town talents, blending explosive power with maturity that experts predict will propel him to senior stardom
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