Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenage sensation who has taken the cricketing world by storm, has revealed the name of the Indian player who inspires him the most: Shubman Gill. The 14-year-old left-handed batsman from Bihar, currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has cited Gill's recent performances as a major source of motivation.

Suryavanshi's admiration for Gill stems from the latter's remarkable innings in the recent Test match against England. Gill's impressive scores of 269 and 161 have left a lasting impression on the young prodigy, who aspires to emulate Gill's ability to bat for long periods and take the team to victory.

"I got a lot of inspiration from him (Gill) because I saw the game," Suryavanshi said in a video posted by BCCI. "Even after making 100 and 200, he didn't leave the game and took the team ahead".

Suryavanshi's own recent achievements have also drawn considerable attention. During India U-19's fourth match against England, he smashed a sparkling 143 off just 78 balls, becoming the fastest and youngest batter to make a hundred in Youth ODIs. This record-breaking feat has further fueled his ambition to excel in the sport.

"I will try to make 200 in the next match," Suryavanshi stated. "Next time, I will try to play full fifty overs. The more I make runs, the better it will be for my team". He also expressed a desire to bat with more caution, recognizing that he could have extended his innings even further in the match against England.

Born on March 27, 2011, Vaibhav Suryavanshi's journey in cricket began at a tender age. Recognizing his son's passion for the sport, his father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, supported him in pursuing his dreams. Vaibhav started playing cricket at the age of four and joined a cricket academy in Samastipur at nine. His talent quickly became evident, and he soon started making waves in domestic cricket.

In January 2024, Suryavanshi made his first-class debut for Bihar against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy at the age of 12 years and 284 days. He also became the youngest IPL player ever to be signed by a franchise when the Rajasthan Royals picked him up for INR 1.1 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Suryavanshi subsequently became the youngest player to debut in the IPL. He also holds the record for the youngest player to score a half-century and a century in the IPL.

Suryavanshi's dedication and hard work have been praised by his coach, Manish Ojha, who has been instrumental in shaping his career. His father even sold his land to fund Vaibhav's cricketing career. VVS Laxman, the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), has also been monitoring Suryavanshi's progress.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi's explosive entry into the world of cricket has made him a player to watch out for. With Shubman Gill as his inspiration and a strong support system behind him, the young prodigy is well on his way to achieving great success in the years to come.