The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League has witnessed the arrival of two teenage prodigies who are turning heads and rewriting records with their fearless approach at the crease. Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, representing Rajasthan Royals, has already etched his name in IPL history by becoming the youngest ever centurion in the league. At the same time, Chennai Super Kings’ 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre has made headlines as the franchise’s youngest ever half-centurion.
Though comparisons between the two are already being drawn due to their age and position as top-order batters, Ayush Mhatre’s father, Yogesh, has offered a grounded perspective, urging his son to focus on his own journey. “I’ve told Ayush that he and Vaibhav are two very different batsmen and that if someone compares him with Vaibhav, he should not keep that in mind. I have also told him not to try to imitate Vaibhav or look to score a century like him. I believe there is absolutely no need for Ayush to take any pressure upon himself and try to do big things. He has a long way to go,” he said in a statement to a leading publication.
Ayush Mhatre was drafted into the Chennai Super Kings squad midway through the tournament as a replacement for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who suffered an elbow fracture that cut his season short. Despite the late entry, the young Mumbai cricketer made an immediate impact.
On debut, Mhatre dazzled with a 15-ball 32 against Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, an innings laced with four boundaries and two sixes. He followed this with another impressive knock—30 off 19 deliveries—against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Though he stumbled with a score of just 7 against Punjab Kings, Mhatre rebounded in style by smashing a breathtaking 94 off 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
So far, Ayush has tallied 163 runs at a strike rate of 185.22, marking a blistering start to what looks to be a very promising career.
With Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre showcasing maturity beyond their years, IPL 2025 is turning out to be a celebration of youthful audacity. The cricketing world is watching closely as these two young talents carve their own paths in the league’s storied history.
