A national honour for a teenage prodigy
Vaibhav Suryavanshi and India’s Celebration of Young Sporting Excellence: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old cricket prodigy, was awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in 2025. The award was conferred by President Droupadi Murmu, recognising his extraordinary achievements at an age when most athletes are still in basic training.
The honour places Vaibhav among India’s most celebrated young achievers. His performances have drawn nationwide attention for combining consistency, power-hitting, and composure under pressure.
Significance of the PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
The PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is India’s highest civilian honour for children aged 5 to 18 years. It recognises excellence across diverse fields, including sports, bravery, science and technology, art and culture, environment, and social service.
Static GK fact: The award was restructured and renamed in 2018, replacing the earlier National Bravery Awards, to broaden recognition beyond acts of courage.
Vaibhav was honoured in the Sports category, highlighting India’s emphasis on identifying talent early and nurturing elite athletes from grassroots levels.
Recognition by national institutions
While addressing the award ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu praised young achievers for becoming role models for the nation. Vaibhav’s rise was noted as a symbol of discipline and dedication in competitive sport.
The BCCI described him as an “explosive young batter,” reflecting how his performances have already altered expectations around youth cricket in India.
Record-breaking feats in domestic cricket
Vaibhav’s impact in List A cricket has been historic. He scored 190 runs off just 84 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, becoming the youngest centurion in List A history.
In the same innings, he surpassed AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest 150 in List A cricket. His 15 sixes in a single 50-over match stand as the highest by an Indian player.
Static GK Tip: List A cricket refers to limited-overs domestic matches officially recognised by international cricket bodies.
Dominance in T20 and Under-19 formats
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vaibhav scored 108 not out off 61 balls for Bihar. At 14 years and 250 days, he became the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history.
His Under-19 record is equally remarkable. He scored 171 off 95 balls against UAE in the Under-19 Asia Cup, the highest score by an Indian in the tournament. He also registered a century against Australia Under-19 in a Youth Test in Brisbane.
IPL milestones at an unprecedented age
Vaibhav made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals at 14 years and 23 days, becoming the youngest player in IPL history. He later smashed a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, the fastest by an Indian and second-fastest overall in IPL history.
Static GK fact: The Indian Premier League began in 2008 and is the world’s most-watched T20 league.
A marker of India’s sports ecosystem
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s recognition reflects India’s growing ecosystem for youth sports development. His achievements demonstrate how early exposure, structured domestic tournaments, and institutional backing can create world-class athletes.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Vaibhav Suryavanshi and India’s Celebration of Young Sporting Excellence:
| Topic | Detail |
| Award | Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar |
| Year | 2025 |
| Conferred by | President of India |
| Awardee | Vaibhav Suryavanshi |
| Age | 14 years |
| Category | Sports |
| Key Record | Youngest centurion in List A cricket |
| IPL Milestone | Youngest IPL player and centurion |
| Governing Body Mentioned | BCCI |
| Age Eligibility for Award | 5 to 18 years |
