14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Awarded Highest Civilian Award, Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, By President Murmu

Teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi swapped runs for recognition on Friday as he was honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan

in New Delhi.

The 14-year-old received India’s highest civilian award for children (aged 5–18), recognising exceptional achievement across fields including sports, bravery, innovation, science, social service, and culture.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi — rewriting the script at just 14
Already touching greatness, and now honoured with the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 🏅
A prodigy rising way ahead of his time 💗 pic.twitter.com/tHA51l907x

— . (@kadaipaneer_) December 26, 2025

Suryavanshi was one of 20 young achievers celebrated at the ceremony.

His presence at Rashtrapati Bhavan meant he missed Bihar’s Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Manipur, prompting some surprise — especially after his stunning 190-run knock against Arunachal Pradesh in the previous match.

However, the absence came with good reason: Suryavanshi had been instructed to report for the ceremony early in the morning, a once-in-a-lifetime honour.

Addressing the awardees, President Murmu praised the children for inspiring the nation.

“Your achievements inspire the entire country. Every child honoured today is equally important and valued,” she said. “It is because of such gifted children that India continues to shine on the global stage.”

She added that while only a few names could be mentioned due to time constraints, every awardee had made a remarkable contribution in their respective field, crediting parents and families for their support.

Suryavanshi is now unlikely to feature again in the Vijay Hazare Trophy this season. Instead, his focus shifts firmly to the international stage, with the prodigious batter expected to join the India Under-19 squad ahead of the U19 World Cup, which begins on January 15.