Watch Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar from President Droupadi Murmu

In a prestigious ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, 14-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was honored with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. Presented by President Droupadi Murmu, this award is India’s highest civilian recognition for children, celebrating extraordinary excellence in fields such as sports, bravery, and innovation. Suryavanshi was among 20 exceptional young achievers recognized for their contributions to the nation.

President Droupadi Murmu honours Vaibhav Suryavanshi with PM Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

The timing of the ceremony explained the teenager's notable absence from Bihar’s Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture against Manipur. While fans were surprised to see him miss the game—particularly following his explosive 190-run innings against Arunachal Pradesh—the absence was mandatory, as he was required to report to the capital early that morning for this historic honor.

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During the event, President Murmu lauded the recipients for their dedication, noting that their achievements serve as an inspiration to the entire country. For Suryavanshi, the day marked a significant transition from the cricket pitch to the national stage, swapping his bat for a medal in a truly once-in-a-lifetime moment.

“Your achievements inspire the entire country. Every child honoured today is equally important and valued. It is because of such gifted children that India continues to shine on the global stage," she said.

It appears unlikely that Suryavanshi will feature again in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season. His focus has now shifted entirely to the international stage as he prepares to join the India Under-19 squad.

The prodigious batter is expected to link up with his teammates soon for preparatory matches ahead of the U19 World Cup, which is set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. His departure is a significant blow for Bihar, but it marks the next step in the career of a player who has already broken numerous records at just 14 years old.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi's shot to glory

Suryavanshi’s meteoric rise to stardom was ignited during IPL 2025, where he made history as the youngest player ever to debut in the league at the age of 14 years and 23 days. Representing the Rajasthan Royals, he captured the world's attention in just his third appearance by smashing a breathtaking century off only 35 deliveries against the Gujarat Titans.

Since that breakout performance, the young prodigy has been on a scoring spree across various age-group and domestic levels. He has consistently crossed the hundred-run mark in prestigious tournaments like the Asia Cup Rising Stars and the Under-19 Asia Cup. Notably, he also etched his name into the record books of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as its youngest centurion, achieving the feat at 14 years and 250 days. Most recently, Suryavanshi continued his dominant form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy while playing for Bihar. In a stunning display of power hitting against Arunachal Pradesh, he reached a century in just 36 balls. Opening the innings, he narrowly missed a double hundred, finishing with a colossal 190 runs from 84 balls—an innings punctuated by 16 boundaries and 15 sixes.