RAJASTHAN'S SURYAVANSHI MAKES IPL DEBUT AT 14, STARTS OFF WITH A SIX

The youngest debutant of IPL blasts a six off the first ball he faced

Indian Premier League - IPL - Rajasthan Royals v Lucknow Super Giants - Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, India - April 19, 2025 Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Suryavanshi in action REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was thrust into the Indian Premier League (IPL) spotlight as its youngest debutant on Saturday and the 14-year-old announced himself in spectacular style with a massive six off the first ball he faced.

The Rajasthan Royals left-hander came into the squad for the clash with Lucknow Super Giants in place of captain Sanju Samson and was an impact substitute during their chase of 181, where he started by smashing Shardul Thakur over extra cover.

"My word, what the hell was that?" Australia's Shane Watson said during the broadcast.

"One of the hardest shots in cricket is to gain power over cover off the front shoe ... Power to burn from the 14-year-old. What a way to announce yourself to the world."

Suryavanshi, who idolises West Indian great Brian Lara, hit two more sixes in his 20-ball 34 and was dismissed after forging a 85-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, but his team went on to lose the match by two runs.

"It was important to give him an opportunity. He batted well in the nets, his preparation was good," Rajasthan's spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule told reporters.

"Obviously we missed Sanju but it created an opportunity for Vaibhav and he made the most of his it. He batted beautifully.

"He's a great kid with a really good head on his shoulders. He's got a game that's almost 360 degrees. He's courageous and you saw his approach. He's dominating and wants to play his shots. His theory is 'watch the ball, hit the ball'."

Suryavanshi had grabbed headlines in November when he became the youngest player to earn a contract in the lucrative Twenty20 league at the age of 13 after his team outbid Delhi Capitals and signed him for 11 million Indian rupees (about $128,750).

The youngster made his debut in the domestic Ranji Trophy red-ball competition aged 12 last year and has played for India's Under-19 side against Australia, scoring a 58-ball ton.

There were murmurs about his immense talent after he made a triple-century in a local tournament in his home state of Bihar, and fans will hope he can continue to sparkle for his IPL team.

 - Reuters

KISHAN TON POWERS HYDERABAD RO BIG WUN OVER RAJASTHAN IN IPL

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Ishan Kishan celebrates after scoring a century during his side's defeat of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL (Noah SEELAM)

Top-order batter Ishan Kishan hammered his first century in the Indian Premier League on Sunday as he powered Sunrisers Hyderabad to a mammoth 286-6 and a 44-run win over Rajasthan Royals.

Hyderabad were invited to bat first and fell just one short of their best of 287, which remains the T20 tournament's highest ever total, with England and Rajasthan bowler Jofra Archer in particular having a day to forget.

The left-handed Kishan stood out as he hammered a ton in 45 balls to pummel the opposition attack after Travis Head smashed 67 off 31 deliveries in the second match of the league that began Saturday.

Rajasthan finished on 242-6 after half-centuries from Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. Shimron Hetmyer hit 42 off 23 balls.

Batting first, Hyderabad's Australian import Head came out roaring with opening partner Abhishek Sharma and the two handed the team a blazing start.

The left-handed Head hammered fast bowler Archer for 23 runs in one over to set the pace for the onslaught.

Archer went on to concede 76 runs in four overs for the most expensive spell in the IPL.

Head and Kishan, playing his first match for Hyderabad, put on 85 runs off 39 balls for the second wicket to lay the foundations for the total.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hit 30 off 15 balls, and Heinrich Klaasen, who hit a 14-ball 34, boosted the total with their explosive cameos.

Rajasthan medium-pace bowler Tushar Deshpande claimed three wickets, including Head, but the batting storm continued right up to the end of Hyderabad's 20 overs.

The Hyderabad total included a remarkable 34 fours and 12 sixes.

Last year, runners-up Hyderabad posted the highest-ever innings total of 287-3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In reply, Rajasthan lost two wickets in the second over -- opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Riyan Parag -- and were never in the chase.

Samson, Rajasthan's regular captain who did not make the XI due to an injury and came in as an impact player, smashed 66 and put on 111 runs with Jurel, who top-scored with 70.

But the partnership could only add a little polish to the defeat for the inaugural IPL champions.

The IPL will end with the final on May 25 with 74 matches to be played by ten teams across 13 venues.

The cash-rich league has generated billions in revenue since its inception in 2008, turning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into one of the richest governing bodies in sport.

- AFP