In a sensational reflection of his phenomenal rise on the pitch, 14-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has achieved a historic feat off the field, being named India's Most Google-Searched Personality of 2025. The astounding level of public curiosity surrounding the teenage batter for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL propelled him past Bollywood stars, political figures, and established sports icons.
The announcement came as part of Google’s annual ‘Year in Search 2025’ report, which highlighted the overwhelming dominance of cricket in the nation's online queries.
The Year of the Prodigy
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's meteoric rise was fueled by a series of unbelievable, record-shattering performances across multiple formats throughout the year:
- IPL Debut & Century: Signed by the Rajasthan Royals at age 13, Vaibhav became the youngest-ever IPL debutant at 14. Just days later, he became the youngest male player to score a T20 century worldwide, smashing a blistering 101 off just 38 balls against the Gujarat Titans. This knock was also the fastest IPL century by an Indian.
- Youth International Stardom: Representing India A, he continued his power-hitting with an astonishing 32-ball century in the Rising Stars Asia Cup against the UAE, cementing his reputation as a fearless striker.
- Domestic Milestone: He became the youngest player to score a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), hammering an unbeaten 108 off 61 balls while playing for his home state, Bihar.
Capturing the Nation's Imagination
Sooryavanshi's on-field heroics translated directly into massive online engagement. Google Search data revealed that the curiosity was driven by his age, the nature of his record-breaking feats, and his inspiring journey from Bihar's modest cricket setup.
- Global Recognition: The phenomenon was not limited to India; Vaibhav also ranked as the sixth-most searched person globally under the 'People' category—the highest ranking for any sportsperson worldwide this year.
- Viral Moments: Clips of his spectacular IPL sixes, his first-ball six on debut, and his fastest centuries went viral across social media platforms, including being spotlighted by Instagram on its official page.
His unprecedented search volume in a nation that typically reserves the top search spots for megastars reflects a shift in public fascination toward inspiring breakout talents and record-breaking sporting narratives.
