Ajay Jadeja praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fearless century in IPL 2025, calling it a dream moment for every young cricketer.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive knock for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur has earned high praise from former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja. The 14-year-old smashed 101 off just 38 balls in IPL 2025, leaving fans and experts amazed by his fearless performance.
Jadeja admitted he struggled to find words to describe the youngster’s impact, saying every budding cricketer dreams of such moments. “I don’t have the vocabulary to fully explain the emotions I’m feeling. I’ll try to put it this way: every one of us who played cricket dreamt of moments like this in our drawing rooms or local grounds. At 14 or 15, we all dreamt differently, but this is what you dream about — to go out and live it in the IPL against players with such experience and talent,” Jadeja said in a conversation with Sports Today.
According to Jadeja, it wasn’t just Suryavanshi’s technique or the bowling quality that impressed him, but his mental strength. He said the teenager showed remarkable control and confidence at such a young age. “It’s not just the technique or the bowling attacks he faced — it’s the mindset that stands out.”
“The belief to carry on even after the high of that over, the ability to stay in the moment, to keep flowing without hesitation — that’s what truly blows me away. Physical skills can be found, but for a 14-year-old to believe in himself like this is extraordinary. Even if someone says it was just his lucky day, what he has shown is something else,” he added.
Suryavanshi hammered seven boundaries and 11 sixes during his match-winning knock. He brought up his fifty in only 17 balls and reached his century in just 35 balls. Jadeja also pointed to Suryavanshi’s debut moment, when he hit a six off the first ball he faced in the IPL, against Shardul Thakur.
ALSO READ | WATCH | KL Rahul Brushes Off Sanjiv Goenka After Beating LSG in IPL 2025
“Some shots he played — you have to first dream of them before you can execute them. For a 14-year-old to think like that is unbelievable. Go back to the first ball he faced three matches ago against Shardul Thakur — he showed then that he belonged. When he got out after scoring 30 that day, he was visibly emotional, almost in tears, but within minutes, he was smiling again in the dugout,” said Jadeja.
He further praised the youngster’s ability to manage his emotions, a rare quality for someone so young. Drawing a parallel with MS Dhoni’s inspirational impact, Jadeja said Suryavanshi’s knock could inspire a new generation.
“The ability to overcome emotions at 14 is massive. His mindset is special. I’m not directly comparing it, but just like MS Dhoni’s arrival changed belief among kids from smaller towns, this moment could change how every 14–15-year-old across India imagines their journey. Cricket in India won’t be the same again,” Jadeja concluded.
ALSO READ | DC Mentor Kevin Pietersen Shares Warm Hug With Virat Kohli After RCB’s Win
