In a historic display of talent and composure, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name into cricketing history by becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket. Representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025, Suryavanshi delivered a scintillating 101 off just 38 balls against Gujarat Titans, showcasing a blend of fearless aggression and mature shot selection.

Opening the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, the duo forged a formidable 166-run partnership, propelling Rajasthan Royals to a commanding eight-wicket victory while chasing a daunting target of 210. Suryavanshi’s innings was punctuated with 11 towering sixes and 7 boundaries, reflecting a strike rate of 265.78.

This remarkable feat not only made him the youngest to score a T20 century but also registered the fastest IPL century by an Indian, surpassing Yusuf Pathan’s previous record.  His performance drew accolades from cricketing legends, with Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh lauding his exceptional talent and temperament.

Hailing from Bihar, Suryavanshi’s cricketing journey has been meteoric. He made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy at just 12 and was signed by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 season.  His rapid ascent underscores the depth of cricketing talent emerging from India’s grassroots.

As Rajasthan Royals strive to climb the IPL standings, Suryavanshi’s emergence offers a beacon of hope and a glimpse into the future of Indian cricket. His blend of youthful exuberance and cricketing acumen promises an exciting journey ahead for fans and the sport alike.

Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has sparked renewed debate over the future of cricket ties between India and Pakistan by calling for a complete boycott following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Azharuddin, speaking at a public event in Mumbai, stated that India should not only continue to refrain from participating in bilateral cricket series with Pakistan but should also withdraw from all matches involving Pakistan in ICC and ACC tournaments. His remarks come amidst growing public outrage and national mourning after the Pahalgam attack, which claimed several innocent lives.

“This is not just about cricket. When such horrific incidents take place, they demand a strong, symbolic stand. Sports cannot be insulated from the pain of a nation,” Azharuddin said. He added that while cricket has always been a unifying sport, it cannot be played in the backdrop of terrorism and national grief.

The former skipper was attending the inauguration of a new Orthopaedics and Joint Care unit at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, where he also took a moment to appreciate the BCCI’s gesture of having players wear black armbands in IPL matches to honour the victims. He noted that while suspending the IPL was not feasible at this stage, such symbolic acts of remembrance are important in showing solidarity.

Azharuddin’s firm stance has added weight to a growing call within India to separate sports from diplomacy, especially in times of heightened political and emotional tension. His comments are expected to reignite conversations around the role of cricket in international relations and the responsibilities of sports bodies in times of national crisis.

As tensions remain high, all eyes are now on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government for any potential policy shifts ahead of upcoming international fixtures involving Pakistan.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis delivered under pressure, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) script a historic first-ever win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium during the IPL 2025 season.

Chasing a tricky target of 155, Mendis played a composed and crucial unbeaten knock of 32 off 22 balls, stitching an unbroken 49-run partnership with Nitish Kumar to seal a five-wicket victory with eight balls to spare. His calm presence at the crease when the game was delicately poised underlined his growing stature in T20 cricket.

Earlier, the Chennai Super Kings, once invincible at home, continued their disastrous 2025 campaign — suffering a fourth consecutive home defeat. Batting first, CSK stumbled despite a promising start, collapsing to 154 all out. Dewald Brevis impressed briefly on debut with a quickfire 42 runs, but it was Harshal Patel’s brilliant spell (4 wickets for 28 runs) that broke CSK’s backbone.

For CSK, promising youngster Ayush Mhatre shone early, but a middle-order collapse proved costly. Even skipper M.S. Dhoni’s tactical gamble of giving Sam Curran two overs backfired, as SRH batters capitalized to turn the game.

In the SRH chase, despite early hiccups — losing Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head quickly — Ishan Kishan’s fluent 44 and Kamindu Mendis’ finishing touch ensured Hyderabad stayed alive in the playoff race.

Meanwhile, in the updated IPL 2025 points table, Sunrisers Hyderabad now sits 8th with 6 points, while CSK languishes at the bottom with just 4 points from 9 games, effectively ending their playoff dreams.

Mendis’ all-round contribution, including a key wicket earlier, and his coolness in the chase were pivotal. While Harshal Patel deservedly took the Player of the Match award, Sri Lanka can proudly celebrate Kamindu’s evolving prowess on the IPL stage.

Points Table Update (After SRH vs CSK Match):

• GT, DC, and RCB are leading the race with 12 points each.
• PBKS and MI are close behind with 11 and 10 points.
• CSK and RR are at the bottom with just 4 points, all but knocked out of the playoffs.