Jos Buttler Hails 14-Year-Old Prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi: ‘Bat Swing Like Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara’
In a sport where precocious talent often sparks curiosity, few stories have captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide like that of Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The 14-year-old Indian batter, representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has left even seasoned international stars in awe, with England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler making a bold prediction about the teenager’s future, likening his bat swing to two of the game’s greatest left-handers, Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara.
Buttler, who had a front-row seat to Suryavanshi’s heroics, witnessed the young prodigy smash a breathtaking 35-ball century—including an astonishing 11 sixes—against Gujarat Titans at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Speaking on his podcast For the Love of Cricket alongside former England pacer Stuart Broad, Buttler didn’t hold back his admiration. ‘He has this amazing bat swing, a bit like—it’s a huge statement—Yuvraj Singh slash Brian Lara,’ he remarked, highlighting the elegance and power reminiscent of the two cricketing icons.
The journey to this moment began when Suryavanshi, hailing from Bihar, became the talk of the town during the IPL auction. Stuart Broad recounted the global buzz surrounding Rajasthan Royals’ decision to sign a 14-year-old for ‘proper adult cricket.’ ‘When I was watching the auction, everyone around the world was like, what? 14? But you ended up being there, keeping wickets, when he scored that incredible IPL 100. Talk us through that—it made news worldwide,’ Broad said to Buttler. Indeed, the age gap between Suryavanshi, the youngest player in the auction, and veterans like James Anderson only amplified the narrative of generational brilliance.
Reflecting on the Gujarat Titans clash, Buttler described the experience as both ‘inspiring and deflating.’ ‘This guy’s 20 years younger than me, and he’s smashing us all around the park. It sent shockwaves throughout the cricket world,’ he admitted. What made the knock even more extraordinary was Suryavanshi’s audacity from the very first ball of his IPL career. ‘He gave himself a bit of room and smacked it over wide long-off for six. I wonder how long he’d planned that—it was premeditated,’ Buttler mused, marveling at the youngster’s confidence.
Against a formidable bowling attack featuring international stalwarts like Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Rashid Khan—widely regarded as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world—Suryavanshi didn’t just clear the boundary; his sixes sailed into the stands with authority. ‘I was literally a yard from him. These weren’t just sixes; they were massive sixes. A 35-ball 100—it was outrageous,’ Buttler exclaimed.
The prodigy’s composure wasn’t limited to this record-breaking knock. In a subsequent game against Chennai Super Kings, Buttler watched on TV as Suryavanshi tackled seasoned spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja with equal disdain. ‘He hit them into the stands, then casually knocked one to cover for a single, as if to say, I’m in complete control. During a run chase, he was calm. I thought, this guy’s the best player I’ve ever seen. I’m blown away,’ Buttler recalled. Unlike his all-out assault against Gujarat, this innings showcased a mature side to Suryavanshi, blending aggression with tactical nous.
At just 14, Suryavanshi has already etched his name into IPL folklore. According to IPL records, his 35-ball ton is among the fastest in the tournament’s history, a feat achieved against bowlers who have tormented the best in the business. Hailing from a modest background in Bihar, where cricket infrastructure is still developing, his rise is a testament to raw talent and relentless determination. Scouts and analysts now speculate whether he could break into India’s Under-19 setup ahead of schedule, given his ability to dominate professional cricketers twice his age.
As Buttler put it, the beauty of Suryavanshi’s game lies in his bat swing—a seamless blend of timing and power that evokes memories of Yuvraj’s elegance and Lara’s flair. If this is just the beginning, cricket might be witnessing the dawn of a generational talent. The world watches eagerly as Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to defy age, expectations, and boundaries—both literal and figurative—in the cauldron of the IPL.