Teen Cricket Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Makes TIME 100 Next List

Teenage cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the only Indian athlete featured in the TIME 100 Next list for 2025. TIME magazine unveiled this annual list of global rising stars who shape the future on Wednesday.

Cricket Journey

The 15-year-old athlete from Bihar appears in the 'Phenom' category of the publication. Time CEO Jessica Sibley noted that the list-makers are pushing boundaries and creating new possibilities across their fields. Sooryavanshi made his senior professional cricket debut in the Ranji Trophy in 2024 at just 12 years old. The Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 1 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 season. During his maiden IPL season, he scored 252 runs in seven innings, including a 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans that set a record for the fastest ton by an Indian in the tournament.

Records And International Play

In his second IPL season, Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs with one century and five half-centuries, finishing as the highest run-getter. He hit 72 sixes in 16 games, beating Chris Gayle's previous record by 20 maximums. He made his international debut in July against England in a T20I at Manchester, becoming the youngest male player to represent India and breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record. He has played six T20Is, scoring 193 runs with a best of 81 against Zimbabwe, and joined India's Asian Games cricket team in Japan. He also broke the world record for the fastest List A half-century in June by reaching the mark in 11 balls during a Tri-Nation series final against Sri Lanka A in Colombo, and served as vice-captain of the winning East Zone team in the Duleep Trophy in August.

Context

Lists like the TIME 100 Next highlight emerging young leaders and athletes from around the world who achieve major milestones early in their careers. Breakthrough performances in major domestic T20 leagues often open doors to national team selection and global recognition for young sports prodigies.