15-Year-Old Cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi Selected for TIME’s Prestigious List

Photo Credit: Vaibhav Suryavanshi/Facebook Kathmandu, October 2 – Indian young cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been named to the esteemed American magazine TIME’s ‘TIME 100 NEXT 2026’ list. This list honors 100 emerging talents from around the world who have the potential to shape the future of their respective fields. At 15 years old, Vaibhav is the only Indian athlete featured on the list and is also the youngest among the honorees. He appears under the ‘Phenoms’ category, which highlights outstanding individuals exhibiting extraordinary talent and great promise at a young age.

Hailing from Bihar, Vaibhav first came into the cricketing spotlight in 2024 when he made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy at just 12 years old. Subsequently, Rajasthan Royals signed him for 10 million Indian Rupees for the Indian Premier League (IPL). During his inaugural IPL season in 2025, Vaibhav showcased his skill by scoring 252 runs across seven innings. His innings of a century off 35 balls against Gujarat Titans received wide acclaim.

Additionally, Indian aerospace innovator Pawan Kumar has also been named to the ‘TIME 100 NEXT 2026’ list. Pawan Kumar is a renowned figure in India’s space technology sector as the co-founder and CEO of private space company Skyrut Aerospace. Previously, he worked as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Under his leadership, Skyrut Aerospace has made significant contributions to India’s private space sector, including the launch of the ‘Vikram-1’ rocket mission, which has been recognized as a milestone marking a new chapter in the country’s private space industry.