Former Australian captain Steve Waugh shares his impression of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fastest ton of 35 balls against the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025.
Waugh Praises Vaibhav’s Grit
Appearing on a special Jio Hotstar panel alongside Robin Uthappa and Anil Kumble, Waugh who rarely follows the IPL closely admitted that Vaibhav’s explosive knock grabbed his full attention. Steve Waugh, who generally doesn’t follow much of the IPL, said Vaibhav’s 35-ball century caught his attention.
Advertisement
“I watched that century and I just couldn’t believe how well he struck the ball and how easy he was hitting the sixes and how relaxed he was,” Waugh said in a media interaction. “As a 14-year-old, he had no concept of pressure… just played with complete freedom, so that was great to watch. I guess for him, the challenge will be to keep it under control,” he added.
Also Read: All You Need to Know About India Tour of England
He then lauded his parents for their sacrifice to ensure that Vaibhav makes it to the top and to witness the massive journey that’s ahead of him.
“He’s got a lot of skill, he’s mentally tough, and he’s got a great backstory, so you want to see someone like that be successful. It’s a great story for cricket and for me watching from a long way away,” Waugh said, referring to the well-documented accounts of his parents’ sacrifices to ensure his success.
Advertisement
Also Read: IPL 2025: Ravichandran Ashwin Addresses Fan Comment Asking Him to Leave CSK
Tendulkar vs Vaibhav? Steve Waugh Says, “Not the Same”
When Steve Waugh was asked about comparing Vaibhav Suryavanshi to the 16-year-old Tendulkar, he denied it straightaway, stating there’s no comparison between them. He added context to Sachin’s iconic ton at Perth, which he scored while he was 18 years old on the toughest pitch possible in those days. But he concluded by saying that he never imagined a 14-year-old scoring a century, stating that it was unthinkable.
“I don’t think you can compare anyone to Sachin Tendulkar. I mean, a 16-year-old (18-year-old) coming out to Australia and scoring a century in Perth on the hardest, most unique pitch in world cricket, where most players really struggle to play—that’s different,” Waugh said.
Also Read: Veteran Gujarat Batter Priyank Panchal Retires from First-Class Cricket
