The coach and captain duo of Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma quenched India's long-lived thirst for winning the ICC T20I World Cup in 2024. The conclusion of the 2024 T20I World Cup marked Dravid's last day as India's head coach.

Rohit Sharma also retired from the format after lifting the trophy. When Dravid discussed his days with Men in Blue with former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, he went for a trip down memory lane. Dravid appreciates how Sharma used to propel the team. 

During his days as an active cricketer, Dravid earned the nickname 'The Wall.' He knew the format like the palm of his hand. Dravid believes Rohit's past captaincy exploits helped him to groom as a mature captain. The former India head coach claimed that Sharma really cared for the team, and he was well aware of his moves. Dravid further believed that a team should be driven according to the captain's plan. 

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Dravid trust on a captain's team

"I think it was really good. Firstly, he deeply cared about the team. You know, right from the first day, I think he was very clear about how he wanted to run the team and what was important to him. And that's really important in any relationship with a captain and a coach, and especially the way I coach," Dravid said while speaking to R Ashwin on Kutti Stories. 

"Captain has to lead it in terms of the direction he wants to go in, and you have to support him and help him in that. Of course, you need to sometimes help a captain in terms of getting that clarity and understanding what is required... I thought he was very clear about what he wanted from the team, how he wanted the environment to be, how he wanted the atmosphere to be, and how he wanted things to run. I think he has had so much experience over the years; it really helped. He was very clear on those things."

Two Indian batters have made it into the list of the top five greatest-ever batters of the former Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, and neither of them is Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. The former leader has also picked Brian Lara as the most skillful one he has ever played against, besides addressing two modern players from the Fab Four, including Joe Root and Kane Williamson.

Indian fans won’t be happy with no names of Kohli and Rohit, but interestingly, Ponting has avoided keeping an Australian player in the list in the form of Steve Smith or someone else. The former captain went with Sachin and Rahul as the two players, who ended their careers with 34357 and 24208 runs respectively.

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“Brian Lara was the most skilful batsman I played against, and when I was captain, he gave me more sleepless nights than anybody. Sachin was technically as good as anyone I’ve seen, along with Rahul Dravid; I’d put Joe in there now as well, and Kane Williamson.” Ponting expressed in The Times during a recent conversation.

Ricky Ponting keeps Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in his top-five greatest batters

Even though Root is the current second leading Test getter, Ponting feels that Stokes can bring the big-game impact. He separately went with Jacques Kallis as the greatest cricketer he had seen. Ponting also hailed Root’s transformation of converting the 50s to 100s.

“Stokes is a hard one. Numbers don’t define him. It’s been about moments with him; he’s a situation player. When things get toughest, he’s been at his best. When you’re talking about the greats, you’ve got to talk about impact on games.” The Tasmanian batter, who is the fourth leading run-getter in international cricket with 27483 runs, claimed.

 “What he’s done the past five years is extraordinary. Look at the numbers: he’s got 13,500 runs. I rank players on how long they can stay at the top of their powers. You can be a great player for 30 to 40 games, but can you do it for 150 games?” Ricky Ponting concluded the conversation.

Catches win matches, and that’s the old proverb going on from the start of the game of cricket. Whether it’s the T20s, the ODIs, or even the longest format of the game, catches always help a side in putting their dominance over the opponents. Fielding has always been a vital aspect in the game as it puts pressure on the sides with the new batters walking in. From Joe Root to Rahul Dravid to Mahela Jayawardene to Steve Smith, everyone has earned success in this field. 

One can look back at the opening Test of the ongoing five-match series between England and India, where the Shubman Gill-led side dropped four catches in their first innings, with the ball, at Leeds. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the culprit on many occasions, whether at the gully region or even in the outfield. The result was known to all as India lost the contest by five wickets with the home side chasing a record fourth-innings total.

Let’s take a look at the top 5 players with the most catches in Test cricket.

5. Jacques Kallis (200 catches)

There was hardly anything the former South African player couldn’t do. If one needs to score runs at the top, or pick wickets in the middle overs, or grab those fine catches at the slip region, or any other places in the ground, Jacques Kallis would always walk at the top. The veteran is fifth on the list of most catches in the longest format with 200 scalps in 315 innings. He had bucket hands, and there was hardly any catch that he dropped in his days.

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He was also the third highest run-getter of the longest format with 13289 runs in 280 innings at an average of 45.37, thanks to 45 centuries and 58 half-centuries at the best score of 224 runs.

4. Steve Smith (200 catches)

The former Australia captain and the current batter of the side, Steve Smith, is fourth on the list, jointly with Kallis, thanks to 200 catches in 225 innings. He will have a chance, though, to go up the ladder. Smith is another fabulous fielder in the slip region. There are the brilliant one-handed grabs from the New South Wales batter that caught the eyes of the fans around the globe. Smith always stands with relaxed hands and pays full concentration to the ball till the last moment to grab it.

At the start of the year 2025, Smith crossed the 10000-run mark in the red-ball format and now has 10424 runs in 260 innings at an average of 53.62 with 36 centuries.

3. Mahela Jayawardene (205 catches)

c Mahela Jayawardene b Muttiah Muralidharan will always be the best combination in the five-day format. Whenever a team used to trip Sri Lanka in the past, the fear was the former legendary off-spinner. But he was excellent only because Mahela used to stand with his big safe hands at the slip region and caught thousands of the bowlers. Whenever a batter used to get an outside edge, there was no meaning to back; Mahela had already picked it.

With the bat, the Sri Lankan legend finished with 11814 runs as the country’s second leading run-getter in 280 innings at an average of nearly 50 with 34 centuries at the best score of 374.

2. Rahul Dravid (210 catches)

The amount of concentration the former Indian captain had; he was bound to be a successful slip fielder. Rahul Dravid was always attentive at the bowler with the bat, and it was the same case in the slip position. He was the leader of the list for a long time before slipping down to the second position. Dravid has picked up 210 catches in 301 innings. He will be among the best slip fielders, compared to many former players.

With the blade, he is the fourth-highest run-getter with 13288 runs in 286 innings at an average of 52.31 and a strike rate of 42.51, shouldering 36 centuries.

1. Joe Root (211 catches)

It was the Karun Nair wicket in the evening session of the third Lord’s Test that helped Joe Root overtake Dravid, as he now has 211 catches, the most by a fielder in the longest format, in 296 innings. Fielding in England is not an easy job. The ball tends to come at them most often, and that puts pressure on the fielders all the time. Also, the chilly weather doesn’t help in keeping the hands soft and warm. But Root was decent in the job.

He also went past Dravid earlier on the same day with 37 Test centuries and is now the fifth leading run-getter with 13219 runs in 284 innings at an average of 50.84. His eyes are the cherry on the cake, Sachin Tendulkar’s 15921 runs in 329 innings. At this age, he is still a fit guy to break the record.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s stunning rise in red-ball cricket reached another high on Day 3 of the second Test at Edgbaston, as the 23-year-old became the joint-fastest Indian to score 2,000 Test runs. He achieved the feat in his 40th innings, equalling the legendary duo of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag. The milestone came early in India’s second innings, when Jaiswal reached 10 runs.

At just 23 years and 188 days old, Jaiswal also became the second-youngest Indian to reach the landmark—only Sachin Tendulkar (20 years, 330 days) was younger. The elegant left-hander’s milestone came after a composed 87 in the first innings, where he batted with maturity, absorbing pressure early on and forming vital partnerships—72 runs with Karun Nair and 54 with Shubman Gill—before falling to Ben Stokes.

The list of Indian batters with the fewest innings to reach 2,000 Test runs:

• 40 innings—Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yashasvi Jaiswal
  
• 43 innings—Vijay Hazare, Gautam Gambhir
  
• 44 innings—Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar
  
• 45 innings—Sourav Ganguly
  46 innings—Cheteshwar Pujara
  

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Jaiswal Crosses 4,000 First-Class Runs, Siraj-Akash Deep Shine With the Ball

Jaiswal also went past 4,000 First-Class runs during the Edgbaston Test, reaching the milestone in his 40th match with an average close to 59. Jaiswal has 14 centuries and 14 half-centuries in First-Class cricket, highlighting his taste for big runs. Since his great debut innings of 171 at Roseau in 2023, he has been a pillar of India's batting lineup, including a fantastic series of 712 runs against England at home earlier this season.

India’s bowlers backed up the batting efforts, with Mohammed Siraj picking up 6 for 70 and Akash Deep taking 4 for 88 to dismiss England for 407, giving the visitors a crucial 180-run first-innings lead. Despite a massive 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*), Siraj’s early breakthroughs and Akash Deep’s dismissal of Brook helped India wrest back momentum heading into the final two days.

So far, only 3 Indian captains have encrypted their names in history for winning the Test series against England (ENG vs IND) in England. Ajit Wadekar, Kapil Dev, and Rahul Dravid guided Team India to win the Test series in England. India, under a young captain in Shubman Gill, is ready to take on the host nation in another tour. Last time, when Rahul Dravid was the captain, India emerged as the winning side there. Since then, no captains have led Team India to the heroic. If Shubman and his boys are able to win the 5-match series, their names will be written in golden letters. 

India's tour of England, 1971:

India won the 3-match series by 1-0; Ajit Wadekar was the skipper. 

1st Test:

• ENG: 304 & 191

•IND: (Target 183) 313 & 145/8

Bishan Bedi was at the top of his game. After taking 4 wickets in the first innings, he took another 2 in the second phase and completed a 5-wicket haul in a Test match. Ray Illingworth's England was the clear favorite to win the match and the series, but the Indians were determined to offer them an unexpected setback. While John Snow and Alan Knott scored 73 and 63, respectively, Ajit Wadekar and Gundappa Viswanath replied with 85- and 68-run innings, respectively. In the second innings, England bundled before the two hundred mark, and the match ended in a draw in London, at Lord's. 

2nd Test:

• ENG: 386 & 245/3d

• IND: (Target: 420) 212 & 65/3

This match at Old Trafford was mostly dominated by the batters of England, and India defended well to avoid a possible defeat. England got a couple of centurions in the game as Ray Illingworth and Brian Luckhurst. Sunil Gavaskar and Eknath Solkar bagged fifty-plus scores individually. Gavaskar played a match-saving knock in the second innings as well. 

3rd Test:

• ENG: 355 & 101

• IND: (Target: 173) 284 & 174/6

India created history in The Oval. Under Ajit Wadekar's leadership, team India won its first-ever Test series in England. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar's 6-wicket spell in the second innings was match-turning, and Dilip Sardesai was consistent with the bat. In the second and decisive innings, Dilip and Ajit secured the historic win. 

India's tour of England, 1986:

India won the series by 2-0, Kapil Dev was the captain

1st Test:

• ENG: 294 & 180

• IND: (Target: 134) 341 & 136/5

A man-of-the-match performance by Captain Kapil Dev. He played an unbeaten 23 off 10 balls in the second innings to secure a win in London. An absolute neck-and-neck match. Graham Gooch from England and Dilip Vengsarkar scored centuries; with the ball, Chetan Sharma took a fifer in the first innings, and Kapil Dev claimed 4 in the next essay. England's Graham Dilley earned 6 wickets in total from the match. 

2nd Test:

• IND: 272 & 237

• ENG: (Target: 408) 102 & 128

Top-notch batting and bowling performance by India. England was totally out of the game. Dilip Vengsarkar was elected as the best player of the match for his 61 and 102* run innings. Roger Binny had the best bowling figure in the match: 5/40 (13 overs) in the first innings, and in the next innings it was Maninder Singh with 4/26 (16.3). 

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3rd Test:

ENG: 390 & 235

IND: (Target: 236): 390 & 174/5

The high-scoring match ended in a draw, though India had already pocketed the series through previous wins. In this match Chetan Sharma took a total of 10 wickets, and England's Mike Gatting played an unbeaten 183-run knock. Despite multiple bowling brilliances from both ends, the crowd in Edgbaston witnessed a run galore. 

India's tour of England, 2007: 

India won the series by 1-0, Rahul Dravid was the captain.

1st Test: 

ENG: 298 & 282

IND: (Target:380) 201 & 282/9

The match got more intense in the second innings. Kevin Pietersen scored 134 and RP Singh replied with a 5-wicket haul. MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik's solid last day batting concluded the match in a draw in Lord's. Jamesh Anderson also took 5 scalps, in the match during the first innings. 

2nd Test:

ENG: 198 & 355

IND: (T:73): 481 & 73/3

Zaheer Khan thrived in Nottingham in this match, where he claimed a total of 9 wickets and concealed the victory of India. Because of him and Anil Kumble's 3-wicket spell, England batters never got the desired opportunity to pile ot good amount of runs. With the bat, Sachin Tendulkar (91) and Sourav Ganguly (79) saw the oppertunity and utilised it for a massive lead. England in the second innings tried hard with Michael Vaughan's 124, but they set a target of 73 only for India to win the match. 

3rd Match:

IND: 664 & 180/6d

ENG: (Target: 500) 345 & 369/6

One of the most entertaining match in this list. Anil Kumble produced unbelievable 110* run innings in the first innings. And when he went to bowl, claimed a total of 5 scalps. For England, James Anderson took 6 in total and Kevin Pietersen with his 101-run Innings tried to flip the script, but the match ended in a draw.

India will take on England in a much awaited five-match Test series starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. This series begins the 2025–27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. As the Men in Blue prepare for another tough challenge in England, let’s rewind and relive some of the finest batting efforts by Indian players on English soil in the 21st century.

Rahul Dravid (146 at The Oval, 2011)

The 2011 tour was a nightmare for India, ending in a 4-0 series defeat. But one man stood tall Rahul Dravid. Known as ‘The Wall’, Dravid was India’s best performer with the bat, scoring three centuries in the series. His unbeaten 146 runs at The Oval stood out. He opened the innings and carried his bat, facing 266 balls and hitting 20 boundaries in a historic day. Even though India lost the match and the series, Dravid’s fight and class shone through what he has and how he can play in crucial games.

Rohit Sharma (127 at The Oval, 2021)

Rohit Sharma answered all the questions about his overseas form with a calm and classy century at The Oval in 2021. In the fourth Test, India were 99 runs behind, and the pressure was on. But Rohit stayed focused, batted with patience, and scored a brilliant 127. His knock changed the course of the match and helped India take control. It was one of his best Test innings away from home.

KL Rahul (129 at Lord’s, 2021)

KL Rahul’s hundred at the Lord’s came in the second Test of the 2021 series. He, along with Rohit Sharma, gave India a strong start and pull down england, putting on 123 runs for the first wicket . Rahul’s knock of 129 came off 250 balls with 12 fours and a six. His calm and composed innings helped India post 364 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 151 runs. Scoring a century at Lord’s is always special and Rahul made it count.

Virat Kohli (149 at Edgbaston, 2018)

Before the 2018 series, critics discussed about Kohli’s ability to perform in England. He silenced them with a stunning 149 in the first Test at Edgbaston. India were in trouble at 54/2, but Kohli took charge and battled against the likes of Anderson and Broad. He smashed 22 fours and a six, fighting alone to keep India in the game. Though India lost the match by 31 runs and the series 4-1, Kohli’s knock is remembered as one of his finest away performances.

ALSO READ: What are the highest successful 200+ chases in Tests at Lord’s before SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final?

Ajinkya Rahane (103 at Lord’s, 2014)

India’s only win in the 2014 series came at Lord’s, thanks to a gutsy knock from Ajinkya Rahane. On a green, seaming pitch, Rahane scored a brave 103 off 154 balls. He hit 15 fours and a six, and stitched a crucial 90-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His century helped India post 295 in the first innings, and they went on to win the match by 95 runs. It remains one of India’s most memorable wins in the overseas games.

As India gets ready for this high-stakes series, these past performances remind us of the kind of courage and skill needed to succeed in England. From Dravid’s rock-solid defence to Rahane’s cool-headed knock at Lord’s, Indian batters have shown they can rise to the occasion. With a new WTC cycle kicking off, fans will be hoping for more such magic as India aim to make history once again.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) have lost eight of the nine chasing matches in IPL 2025. Five of these were by a margin of 11 runs or less. They were largely ahead of the opposition in four of these chasing attempts. They were in one back from a comeback position but they were favourites at the beginning of the final five overs. However, only two of their targets this IPL have been under 200, and none under 180. Coach Rahul Dravid has said their bowling was equally to blame if not more than the batting.

"It's been a tough one," Dravid said when asked to assess the middle order. "We've been close, but we just can't quite get the job done. It's been one of those types of seasons where you're always with the ball thinking that we give 15-20 runs more and then you put yourself in really good positions to win the games, but we just can't quite get the job done and a bit around that lower, lower-middle order we just haven't been able to click and get those big shots that we require.".

"I mean, it's been five games now where the margins have really one or two hits which you need in that phase, which, we just haven't been able to do. So it's not that we've been losing too many wickets, we're still only five down today, but we just haven't been able to hit those shots."There's no use just holding the batsman responsible. I feel with the ball too, to be honest, I did not think it was a 220 wicket, it was more like a 195, 200 wicket, and we gave 20 runs more. If we see the statistics, we probably have not been good enough with the ball. Both at picking up wickets and dictating runs. We are running after 200-220 each game."

Also see: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Harpreet Brar's classic thigh five celebration after dismissing Riyan Parag in RR vs PBKS match

Dravid points to bowling woes, backs middle order after RR's disappointing season

Dravid indicated that it was the bowling unit that required serious improvement and hinted at preparation changes prior to the following year. "Still our batters, particularly the openers, have been giving us good starts, but we have been unable to finish the job," Dravid explained. "Work on it for the next year. A bit in the fielding too. You look at a tournament and notice just three wins, but notice the five close losses. Not an excuse, but you can't lose all five close games. We have good batting. In a year they will get even better. Maybe in the bowling, something we need to do to get better."

Dravid didn't see any reason to question the middle order's capabilities. "This is a really quality middle order," Dravid said. "You've got Riyan (Parag) and Dhruv (Jurel) and then Sanju (Samson) is playing in that middle order today as well, so that's really quality India kind of players with an overseas guy who's also playing international cricket.". "To be fair, they all had decent performances throughout the season. They didn't. Riyan played some excellent knocks, Dhruv whom we saw today played an excellent knock, perhaps Hettie at the backend possibly lost out this season, which was slightly hard on us, but that happens. That's the game.That's the nature of the game."

India's head coach Rahul Dravid shared a message full of warmth and humor to congratulate Rohit Sharma on a stand being named after him at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The soon-to-be viral video message is a wonderful combination of warmth, wit, and admiration — a fitting representation of both players' friendship and their mutual respect as two of India's great cricketers.

When Dravid began his message, he started in a teasing tone. "Hey Rohit, I guess you have hit so many sixes into those stands, they had to name one after you," Dravid said. But it didn't take long for Dravid to acknowledge the honor for Rohit and use a sincere tone. "Just congratulations! I'm sure as a young kid growing up that this has come to that... It is a tremendous honor, and it is very well-deserved."

Describing Wankhede Stadium as one of the best cricket stadiums in the world, Dravid said, "The legendary Wankhede Stadium now actually has a Rohit Sharma stand. Some of the greatest moments of the game have happened in this stadium; it is only right that your name now be part of that."

Rahul Dravid's message to RO got us like... 🥹💙

P.S. The humour at the start & end 😂👌#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #RohitSharmaStand | @ImRo45 | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/sdnasfUIKi

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 17, 2025

Also read: Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs rejoin Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2025 resumption

A Salute to Rohit's Legacy

Dravid reminisced about Rohit Sharma's journey and immense contributions to Mumbai and Indian cricket, and noted that the adulation is a "just reward" for all he has put in.
He then said, "You probably never envisioned a stand being named after you, but now that it has happened, I hope it was a really special day, spent with your family and friends.

He closed the eulogy by wishing best wishes, commenting on how proud everyone is of Rohit's accomplishments as a player and a leader. The note had a deep impact on fans, appreciating Rohit from when he was a boy growing up in Mumbai, to a cricketing legend, whose name now adorns the walls of the very stadium he dreamt of playing in.

Dravid's message not only captured the time but also the legacy Rohit keeps building—one six, one match, and now one stand at a time.

Wisden, the cricketing authority, released its list of the top six greatest Indian Test batters of all time on May 12, 2025, in the aftermath of Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, sparking discussions among fans and analysts. The list recognizes India's illustrious Test cricket batting history and highlights players who have played a defining role in the format with their skill, tenacity, and remarkable achievements. With years of consistency and match-winning performances, each of the six batters stamped their mark in the shortest format of Test cricket everywhere they went.

1. Sachin Tendulkar

Leading the list is Sachin Tendulkar, with his 15,921 Test runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78 that stand unrivalled. Wisden points to his unmatched consistency over a period of 24 years, although he never reached 500 runs in a series or 250 in an innings. Tendulkar's 51 centuries and his ability to overpower attacks across the globe seal his place as India's greatest Test batsman.

2. Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar, with 10,122 runs in 125 Tests, comes second, renowned for his technical wizardry against aggressive pace attacks of the 1970s and 80s. He was the first player to cross the 10,000-run barrier in Tests, an achievement recognized by the BCCI by naming a boardroom '10000 Gavaskar' on May 15, 2025. Gavaskar's 34 centuries and away performances make him an Indian batting trailblazer.

3. Rahul Dravid

Nicknamed 'The Wall,' Rahul Dravid is placed third with 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of 52.31. His marathon innings, like the 270 against Pakistan in 2004, and his performances in India's overseas wins, like the 2001 Kolkata Test, are what set him apart as great. 36 centuries and his unflappable temperament saw him become unstoppable.

4. Virat Kohli

Who retired from Tests on May 12, 2025? He is fourth overall with 9,906 runs in 123 Tests, with 30 centuries. From 2016 to 2019, Kohli was at his peak, made seven double centuries, and was the top batsman in the ICC Test rankings. Kohli was instrumental in changing India's Test fortunes overseas and played an aggressive style of Test cricket and led India to overseas success.

Also Read: List of Mumbai players honored with named stands at Wankhede stadium

5. VVS Laxman

Fifth on the list is VVS Laxman, whose 281 in Kolkata against Australia in 2001 isfrequently consideredy India's greatest Test innings. Laxman scored 8,781 runs in 134 Tests, and his wristy class plagued bowlers, most notably Australia. Hisstandsd with Dravid, particularly in comeback victories, are legendary.

Virender Sehwag

Finally, Sehwag rounds out this list with 8,586 runs in 104 Tests, playing a fearless, attacking game. His 319 against Pakistan in 2008, plus two other triple-centuries, demonstrate his dominance and his ability to redefine the Test opening batting role. With an 82.23 strike rate, Sehwag added an extra dimension to India's game when it came to playing Tests.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Rahul Dravid, despite currently recovering from an injury and moving around in a wheelchair, showed a heartfelt gesture by standing up to applaud young Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The moment came after the teenage sensation lit up the Sawai Mansingh Stadium with a breathtaking century during the IPL 2025 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT). Dravid’s emotional reaction captured the significance of Vaibhav’s remarkable achievement, reflecting the pride and joy within the Royals' camp.

In the high-stakes encounter on Monday, April 28, Vaibhav Suryavanshi delivered a memorable performance against Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans. The 14-year-old left-hander unleashed a blistering knock, smashing a century off just 35 balls as Rajasthan Royals chased down a challenging target of 210. Vaibhav reached his half-century in just 17 balls and completed his hundred with a towering six over deep mid-wicket off Rashid Khan, stunning the crowd and dominating the bowlers in a breathtaking display.

See Also: Records broken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's breathtaking innings against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025

After Vaibhav’s milestone moment, the entire Rajasthan Royals team, including Dravid and the support staff, rose to their feet to give him a rousing ovation. Dravid, who recently injured himself while playing cricket in Bengaluru, has continued traveling with the team during his recovery, providing mentorship and support. His decision to rise from his wheelchair to honor Vaibhav’s extraordinary innings highlighted the deep bond within the team and showcased the emotional impact of the young batter’s historic knock.

Watch the video;

Rahul Dravid's Cold Celebration When Vaibhav suryvanshi Reached His 100🥶💯 #vaibhavsuryavanshi #GTvsRR #RahulDravidpic.twitter.com/yn8lNuJvKx

— Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) April 28, 2025

Vaibhav Suryavanshi scores second fastest century in IPL

Vaibhav Suryavanshi shattered multiple records during his breathtaking innings against Gujarat Titans. He became the youngest player to score a T20 fifty, surpassing Hassan Eisakhil’s record, and also the youngest T20 centurion, overtaking Vijay Zol. His 35-ball century set a new record for the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian, breaking Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball mark from 2009. Only Chris Gayle has scored a faster IPL century, achieving it in 30 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013.

Suryavanshi finished with 101 runs off just 38 balls, striking seven fours and 11 sixes, and stitched a dominant 166-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal in just 11.5 overs. His innings ended when he was bowled by Prasidh Krishna. Riding on Vaibhav’s explosive knock and Jaiswal’s unbeaten 70 off 40 balls, Rajasthan Royals comfortably chased down the target with 25 balls to spare, clinching a commanding eight-wicket win.