In a proud moment for Indian sports, 14-year-old cricketing sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi was conferred with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2026 by President Droupadi Murmu. The award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, today, coinciding with Veer Bal Diwas.
Recognition of a Sporting Phenomenon
Suryavanshi, a left-handed batting prodigy from Bihar, was among 20 exceptional children honored this year for their outstanding achievements in fields like bravery, sports, science, and social service. The PMRBP is India's highest civilian honor for children aged 5 to 18, and Vaibhav was recognized specifically for his record-breaking feats in cricket that have captured the global spotlight over the last year.
#WATCH | Delhi | 14-year-old Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi conferred with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu on the occassion of Veer Bal Diwas. pic.twitter.com/ZrXaAemkbq
— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2025
A Year of Historic Records
The honor comes as the crowning jewel of a landmark season for the young athlete:
- Youngest Century in List A: Just days before the ceremony, playing for Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he smashed 190 runs off 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh, becoming the youngest centurion in men's List A history.
- IPL History Maker: Representing Rajasthan Royals, he became the youngest player to debut in the IPL at just 14 years and 23 days. He also holds the record for the fastest IPL century by an Indian, reaching the ton in 35 balls.
- Global Search Sensation: Vaibhav was the most-searched Indian personality on Google in 2025, ranking 6th globally.
Sacrifice and National Duty
To receive this prestigious award, Vaibhav skipped Bihar's second-round Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Manipur. Following the ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, he and his fellow awardees met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam for an interactive session.
"Vaibhav has set many records in the highly competitive world of cricket. This is just the beginning—talented children like you will inspire others," President Murmu remarked while presenting the award.
What's Next for Vaibhav?
The young star is not slowing down. Following the national celebrations, Vaibhav will immediately join the India Under-19 squad for preparatory matches ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to begin on January 15, 2026, in Zimbabwe.
