Bihar’s 14-year-old cricket sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi was conferred the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Thursday. The young cricketer is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the ceremony.
The PMRBP is India’s highest civilian award for children between the ages of five and 18 years. It is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in categories including bravery, arts and culture, environment, innovation, science and technology, social service and sport. Vaibhav won the award in the sports category.
After the ceremony, the left-handed batsman is expected to join the rest of the Indian Under-19 team and travel to Zimbabwe as the team prepares for the upcoming U-19 World Cup, which begins on January 15.
Vaibhav’s recognition comes after a record-breaking domestic season. Earlier this week smashed 190 off 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh, he hit 16 fours and 15 sixes to help Bihar post a world record total of 574 for six in 50 overs. He brought up his century in just 36 balls to become the youngest centurion in the history of List A cricket.
In the innings, Vaibhav also surpassed AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest 150 in List A cricket by 10 deliveries. His tally of 15 sixes is the most by an Indian in the format.
Vaibhav was earlier seen in action in the Under-19 Asia Cup where he opened with a commanding 171 against UAE. However, he failed to maintain this form throughout the tournament and India ended up losing the final to Pakistan.
The teenager already caught national attention earlier this year during the Indian Premier League, representing Rajasthan Royals. He registered the fastest century by an Indian in IPL history and achieved the milestone in just 35 balls against the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
December 26, 2025
