‘Last time a 14-year-old did this, it was Sachin’: Shashi Tharoor on Suryavanshi’s Vijay Hazare heroics

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has lauded teenage batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi, comparing his extraordinary talent to that of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fast-track the 14-year-old into the national setup.

The Bihar youngster made his name into the record books during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26  match against Arunachal Pradesh on December 24. Suryavanshi also became the youngest cricketer in men’s List A history to score a century at just 14 years.

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Reacting to Suryavanshi’s record-breaking performance in domestic cricket, Tharoor recalled Tendulkar’s early brilliance, saying “The last time a fourteen-year-old showed such prodigious cricketing talent, it was Sachin Tendulkar – and we all know what became of him. What are waiting for? VaibhavSuryavanshi for India!” in a post on X, tagging the BCCI, head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Tendulkar, calling for serious consideration of Suryavanshi for India.

The right-hander reached his hundred in only 36 balls — the third-fastest List A century by an Indian — marking his maiden non-T20 hundred in senior cricket. This came in just his seventh List A appearance, having made his debut earlier this month against Madhya Pradesh.

Suryavanshi went on to rewrite another global record for the fastest 150 in men’s List A cricket. The teenager reached 150 in 59 balls, surpassing de Villiers’ 64-ball effort against the West Indies in 2015.

With his talent drawing comparisons to the sport’s greatest names and sparking calls for national recognition, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s rise is fast becoming one of the most talked-about stories in Indian cricket.