Instagram has long been a place where big stories unfold through short, punchy moments - and few journeys fit those pieces better than Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary rise this year.
The 14-year-old Vaibhav, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, has been breaking records at a pace that mirrors the swipe speed of Instagram.
So it felt fitting when Instagram - one of the world’s biggest social media brands - chose to spotlight his journey on its official page.
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Vaibhav, who hasn’t even completed a year in top-flight cricket, became only the second Indian cricketer after Virat Kohli to be featured this way.
In its feature, Instagram spent a day with Vaibhav at a Rajasthan Royals Academy, capturing the simplicity and sparkle behind his rapid ascent.
Viewers were treated to glimpses of his practice routine, his love for “batting and hitting long sixes” and the structured contents of his two kit bags.
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“My favourite part in cricket is batting… most players have one kit bag but I have two,” said Vaibhav, who already has 2.1 million followers on Instagram. “Pads, gloves and helmets go in one. My bats stay in the other.”
One of those bats carried a special memory - and a century. “This is the bat Sanju bhai gifted me before the IPL season. I kept asking him (Sanju Samson) for a bat. He gave me this one and I scored my IPL century with it,” Vaibhav said.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Vaibhav so far. From smashing a six off his very first IPL ball to a record-breaking 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, bagging the Super Striker of the Season award, and rewriting history with the fastest hundred in Youth ODIs - Vaibhav has ticked off many milestones most chase for years.
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The breakthrough season continues to grow. Last week, he lit up the Rising Stars Asia Cup with a jaw-dropping 144 off 42 balls for India A against UAE, smashing 11 fours and 15 sixes. His 32-ball hundred made him the youngest man to score a century for any national representative side at senior level, breaking a two-decade-old record.
Instagram also shared Vaibhav’s special message for young athletes like him.
“Whatever sport you like, don’t quit playing. If you keep up your hard work, you will get results with time. And you will see your personal improvement in games, too.”
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently part of the senior India A team that is competing at the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 in Qatar.
