Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi trumpeted 14-year-old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi as the “son of Bihar” during his video address at the 7th Khelo India Youth Games, inaugurated in Patna.
Suryavanshi recently made waves by becoming the youngest player to score a T20 century in the Indian Premier League (IPL), achieving 101 runs off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans.
In the clip that has gone viral, PM Modi emphasized the importance of consistent competition in nurturing talent, stating, “The more you play, the more you grow and shine (jo jitna khelega, wo utna khilega),” mentioning that he has been shining at a very early age.
Indian PM Lauds Vaibhav’s Victory
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting sports, noting the inclusion of traditional disciplines like Gatka, Kho-Kho, Malkhamb, and Yogasana in the Khelo India Youth Games.
Modiji further reiterated that expanding India’s sporting base will strengthen the nation’s “soft power”.
Suryavanshi’s remarkable achievement has drawn attention to the growing talent emerging from India’s grassroots cricket scene. His performance spotlights the potential of youth development programs like Khelo India in identifying and nurturing future sports stars.
