Bihar’s young cricket sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is exiled from his squad’s Vijay Hazare Trophy fixture after being chosen as a participant in the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Puraskar which is one of India’s most prestigious civilian awards for children. The 14-year old travelled across the city of New Delhi to attend the official ceremony for the award held at Rashtrapati Bhavan which is where the honour will be presented by the President Droupadi Murmu.
The time of the ceremony meant that Suryavanshi was not available for the Bihar Plate Group match, marking his absence from the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign. Officials from the team confirmed that the national level recognition had priority over the domestic commitments.
Rashtriya Bal Puraskar’s Recognition in the Sports category
The Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is awarded each year to children who have shown extraordinary achievements in areas such as sports, ingenuity academics, arts, or social services. Suryavanshi was selected for the sports category which makes him one of the cricketers with the smallest age in recent times to be awarded this award.
Alongside the formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the award winners are also scheduled to meet in a meeting with PM Narendra Modi as a crucial element of the process which highlights their accomplishments on a national scale.
Absence from Bihar’s Vijay Hazare Trophy Line-Up
Suryavanshi’s absence from Bihar’s team impacted their decision-making for its Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Manipur. The young batsman was believed to play a pivotal role in Bihar’s Plate Group campaign following his rapid beginning into the event.
Bihar team management has confirmed that Suryavanshi is not returning for the duration of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with his schedule now being shifted towards national commitments as well as age-group international preparation.
Record-breaking Performance before Departure
Prior to leaving the tournament Suryavanshi performed his most impressive performances of the Vijay Hazare Trophy history. In Bihar’s first match, which was in the tournament against Arunachal Pradesh Suryavanshi racked up the ball with 190 runs from only 84 balls in an impressive batting performance that attracted national attention.
The match featured a raging century within just 36 deliveries that made it an all-time youngest player to achieve a hundred runs on the Men’s List A cricket. The innings also ranks among the fastest centuries scored by an Indian player within the Format.
Historic Team Total for Bihar
Suryavanshi’s batting played a key part in Bihar scoring a staggering 574-6 which was the most impressive team score ever achieved during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The feat rewritten several records in the country and instantly elevated the status of the young player in Indian the cricket world.
Former players and analysts of the game said the game was one of the best cricketing efforts to be seen in Indian cricket domestically in recent times, particularly due to Suryavanshi’s age, and his lack of playing experience at the top level.
Rapid Rise in Domestic Cricket and Age-Group Cricket
Suryavanshi’s choice for The selection of Suryavanshi for Rashtriya Bal Puraskar follows a string of outstanding performances across different formats. In the last month, he posted a dominant 171-run tally during the Under-19 Asia Cup against the United Arab Emirates, reinforcing his standing for being one of the country’s top young batters.
His capacity to rapidly adapt to various levels of competition is closely watched by coaches, selectors, and talent scouts on both the national and state level.
Training for the World Cup for the under-19 age group
After the celebration, Suryavanshi is expected to join his India Under-19 team as the preparations ramp up for the forthcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup which is scheduled to start on January 20, 2026, in Zimbabwe.
Officials from India’s youth selection system have stated that his decision to withdraw of the Vijay Hazare Trophy was planned in conjunction with the national team’s requirements in order to ensure that he’s accessible for international commitments of the age group.
The impact of Bihar’s campaign
Bihar’s Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign continues without their star player and putting more responsibility on the other members of the batting team. Sources from the team admitted that replacing Suryavanshi’s dazzling scoring capabilities is a daunting task particularly within the Plate Group where net run rate is often a crucial factor.
Despite the setback, Bihar’s coaching staff argued that the player’s future development and recognition at the national level remain prioritised over any short-term concerns about tournaments.
Widespread Recognition Across Cricketing Circles
Suryavanshi’s Rashtriya Bal Puraskar team has been praised by the Indian cricket community. Former players, coaches and national cricket administrators have acknowledged his feat as a sign of the growing importance placed on developing youth and development in Indian cricket.
At the age of 14 Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s rise from a record-breaking domestic cricket player to a nationally recognized young performer represents a significant milestone which places him among the most watched players within the cricketing community of India.
