IPL wonderkid goes from record hundred to duck

India have fallen for their 14-year-old cricketing superhero and even Australia's own sporting prodigy Oscar Piastri joined in the global salutes for him, but Vaibhav Suryavanshi looked like any dejected schoolboy might after he was dismissed for a duck in Jaipur.

In front of his breathless Rajasthan Royals home fans and with the nation's billion eyes upon him on Thursday after his head-turning century just three days earlier, Suryavanshi strode to the crease to lead the chase of Mumbai Indians' 2-217.

Two balls later, he was walking off, after depositing an attempted drive off Deepak Chahar into the safe hands of Will Jacks at mid-on at the edge of the circle.

It was difficult to ascertain who was the more disappointed – the lad who'd blasted a  freakish 35-ball century off against Gujarat Titans on Monday or the silent crowd at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium who'd believed anything was possible from a boy who'd hit the first ball he'd ever faced in the IPL there for six a fortnight ago.

Words of consolation from around the ground, and from the commentary box, attempted to cushion the blow for the evidently distraught youngster who, as Royals coach Rahul Dravid had warned, is naturally bound to taste failure to go with the extraordinary precocious successes.

After his dismissal seemed to take the wind completely out of everyone's sails, except the cock-a-hoop Mumbai attack, Rajasthan collapsed to 117 all out.

Rajasthan's 100-run defeat signified the end of the Royals' title hopes.

Still, it was great to see luminaries like Mumbai's India captain Rohit Sharma giving the appreciative lad a pat and some uplifting words after the match.

The fuss gave an idea of just how much Suryavanshi's achievements have captured the imagination of a fairly incredulous nation – and beyond. 

Cricket fan Piastri, who's leading the F1 drivers' championship in just his third season, was among those who'd applauded him, offering an applause emoji next to the number "14" to show his astonishment.

But reality bit quickly once Mumbai, who had been put in, established a total that set up their sixth consecutive win to go top of the table.

South African player of the match Ryan Rickelton (61) and Sharma (53) put on 116 for the first wicket, before the tournament's top run-scorer Suryakumar Yadav and captain Hardik Pandya upped the ante with unbeaten knocks of 48, pounding 94 off just 44 balls for the third wicket. 

In reply, Rajasthan slumped to 5-47 inside the powerplay with their formidable opening attack of Trent Boult (3-28) and Bumrah (2-15) proving too much for the hosts, before impact sub Karn Sharma spun the lower order out to finish with 3-23.

Sunday will be the next chance for India to see Suryavanshi in action at the country's greatest cricket arena, Eden Gardens in Kolkata where the Knight Riders will host the Royals.

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