In what turned out to be a breakthrough year in 2025, Vaibhav Suryavanshi not only broke records on the field but also a few off it. The young batting prodigy became India’s most searched personality in 2025 after letting his bat do the talking in age-group cricket, India A, and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Although Vaibhav’s Ranji Trophy debut at the age of twelve last year attracted attention, the Bihar cricketer’s rise to the top peaked in 2025.
Suryavanshi became maybe the most talked-about young batsman in Indian cricket at the age of 14. When the left-hander hit 101 off just 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans in the IPL, he became the youngest male player to ever record a T20 century, catapulting him onto the national scene. He achieved his hundred in just 35 deliveries, the second-fastest in IPL history and the fastest by an Indian, during his blistering performance that included 11 sixes and seven fours.
However, his achievements in 2025 extended beyond franchise cricket. He hit 15 sixes and 11 fours during his 32-ball century against the United Arab Emirates while playing for India A in the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
Suryavanshi continued to excel for Bihar on the home front. He was appointed vice-captain for the team’s first two Ranji Trophy games in 2025–2026, making him the youngest vice-captain in the competition’s history. Additionally, he became the youngest player to ever get a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy when he scored an undefeated 108 off 61 balls for Bihar against Maharashtra.
Suryavanshi was the most searched-for personality in India, according to Google Trends’ “Year in Search 2025.” Punjab opener Abhishek Sharma, who became the top player in the ICC T20I batting rankings, finished second, followed by Priyansh Arya, another young batting prodigy who plays for Delhi and the Punjab Kings.
Remarkably, Guntur resident Shaik Rasheed, 21, was among the top five as well. Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana, the winners of the Women’s World Cup, were in the top ten, followed by veteran batsman Karun Nair, Ayush Mhatre, the Chennai Super Kings opener and captain of India’s U19 team, Gujarat wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel, and Mumbai and Kerala spinner Vignesh Puthur.
Ayush, 17, made an impression with a 94 off 48 balls before leading India U19 through a successful year and scored more than 500 first-class runs, while Priyansh, 24, amassed 475 runs in 17 games in his first IPL season for Punjab Kings. Interestingly, every one of the ten most popular celebrities was a cricketer.
The IPL was the most popular search term in India in 2025, followed by Google Gemini. The top five was completed by the Asia Cup, Champions Trophy, and Pro Kabaddi League. The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj was also a major trend, with the Women’s World Cup coming in at number seven.
In fact, in 2025, one of the most sought-after sporting events worldwide was the Women’s World Cup. The IPL was, predictably, the most sought-after sporting event, followed by the Asia Cup, which was overshadowed by off-field hostilities between India and Pakistan.
Instead of cricket, controversy dominated the India-Pakistan matches. Tensions started before the game when captains avoided the traditional handshake, allegedly at the match referee’s request. Later, India’s players left the game without shaking hands, which prompted a complaint from Pakistan and even threats of boycotts.
With aggressive celebrations, including as Haris Rauf’s “6-0” gesture and Sahibzada Farhan’s gunshot-like reaction, Pakistan’s players inflamed the situation and were both sanctioned under the conduct rule. When India refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan’s cricket chief and interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and instead staged a faux celebration, the final became even more intense.
