Mumbai: Fourteen-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and seven-year-old chess prodigy Vaka Lakshmi Pragnika were among a distinguished group of young achievers conferred with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu on Friday (December 26, 2025).
Suryavanshi, who has captivated the cricketing world with his fearless stroke-play, received the honour for his extraordinary achievements in the sport. The India Under-19 cricketer recently produced a breathtaking knock of 190 off just 84 balls, hammering 16 fours and 15 sixes for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate Group match in Ranchi.
That innings etched his name in history, as he became the youngest male cricketer to score a century in List A cricket at the age of 14 years and 272 days, reaching the milestone in a staggering 36 balls. His explosive batting powered Bihar to 574 for 6, the highest team total ever recorded in List A cricket.
Earlier this year, Suryavanshi had already grabbed global attention by becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket. Representing Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in an IPL match in Jaipur, he smashed 101 off 38 balls, bringing up his century in just 35 deliveries — the second-fastest hundred in IPL history. He also struck a century in a four-day match against Australia Under-19 during the year.
Seven-year-old Pragnika, hailing from Surat in Gujarat, was honoured for her remarkable achievements in chess. She clinched the Under-7 Girls title at the 2025 FIDE World Schools Chess Championship in Serbia, delivering a flawless performance by scoring a perfect nine points from nine games.
Swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu from Karnataka was another standout awardee. She qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the women’s 200m freestyle event, becoming India’s youngest athlete to compete at the quadrennial showpiece. Dhinidhi has also enjoyed immense domestic and international success, winning seven gold medals at the National Games in Goa and representing India at the World Championships in Doha.
The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar recognises exceptional achievements by children across fields such as sports, bravery, social service and environmental conservation, celebrating the country’s brightest young talents.
