Indian cricket's teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has packed a lifetime of milestones into a single week: named the youngest person on TIME magazine's TIME100 Next 2026 list, days after becoming the youngest Indian ever to win an Asian Games gold medal.
TIME unveiled its annual list of emerging global figures on Wednesday, placing the 15-year-old in its "Phenom" category and observing that he "is fast becoming one of global sport's most electrifying figures." He is the only Indian athlete on the list and one of just seven athletes chosen, alongside names like NFL quarterback Arch Manning and NBA star Tyrese Maxey.
Gold in Nisshin
Three days later, Sooryavanshi added continental glory. On October 3, India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men's cricket final of the Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan, retaining the title. Born on March 27, 2011, the Bihar teenager was 15 years, six months and six days old — surpassing shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, who was 16 years, three months and nine days when he won the 10m air pistol gold at Jakarta 2018. Chaudhary remains the youngest Indian individual Asian Games gold medallist, since Sooryavanshi's medal came in a team event.
A record book already full
The numbers behind his rise are staggering. He made his Ranji Trophy debut at 12 years and 284 days, the youngest cricketer to do so in the modern era, before Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 1.10 crore in November 2024. His IPL debut came at 14 years and 23 days — the youngest player ever — and he followed with a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, then the fastest by an Indian in the league.
This season he went further: 776 runs in 16 games with 72 sixes, winning the Orange Cap as the tournament's leading run-getter and bettering Chris Gayle's sixes record by 20. He has since become the youngest male player ever to represent India in a T20I, debuting against England at Manchester in July, and smashed the fastest List A half-century on record — 11 balls — against Sri Lanka A in Colombo. At the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, his 175 off 80 balls in the final against England was the highest individual score in an U19 World Cup final, earning him Player of the Tournament as India won.
Sources: Indian Express: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi only Indian athlete named in TIME's 100 Rising Stars list | Global Indian: From Bihar to TIME100 Next: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise
TIME unveiled its annual list of emerging global figures on Wednesday, placing the 15-year-old in its "Phenom" category and observing that he "is fast becoming one of global sport's most electrifying figures." He is the only Indian athlete on the list and one of just seven athletes chosen, alongside names like NFL quarterback Arch Manning and NBA star Tyrese Maxey.
Gold in Nisshin
Three days later, Sooryavanshi added continental glory. On October 3, India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men's cricket final of the Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan, retaining the title. Born on March 27, 2011, the Bihar teenager was 15 years, six months and six days old — surpassing shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, who was 16 years, three months and nine days when he won the 10m air pistol gold at Jakarta 2018. Chaudhary remains the youngest Indian individual Asian Games gold medallist, since Sooryavanshi's medal came in a team event.
A record book already full
The numbers behind his rise are staggering. He made his Ranji Trophy debut at 12 years and 284 days, the youngest cricketer to do so in the modern era, before Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 1.10 crore in November 2024. His IPL debut came at 14 years and 23 days — the youngest player ever — and he followed with a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, then the fastest by an Indian in the league.
This season he went further: 776 runs in 16 games with 72 sixes, winning the Orange Cap as the tournament's leading run-getter and bettering Chris Gayle's sixes record by 20. He has since become the youngest male player ever to represent India in a T20I, debuting against England at Manchester in July, and smashed the fastest List A half-century on record — 11 balls — against Sri Lanka A in Colombo. At the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe, his 175 off 80 balls in the final against England was the highest individual score in an U19 World Cup final, earning him Player of the Tournament as India won.
Sources: Indian Express: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi only Indian athlete named in TIME's 100 Rising Stars list | Global Indian: From Bihar to TIME100 Next: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Rise
