Some nights are magical. So magical, they defy belief. Monday was one such night. It was a starless night, though. But that didn’t matter. One of the potential superstars of cricket lit up the Sawai Mansigh Stadium, and well beyond.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi played one of the most stunning knocks in the history of the IPL to help Rajasthan Royals score a remarkable eight-wicket victory against Gujarat Titans. The host chased down GT’s 209 for four with 4.1 overs to spare.

The 14-year-old also became the league’s youngest centurion (101, 38b, 7×4, 11×6). And it was the second fastest hundred (35 balls).

Yes, the records, the numbers. They matter, but not as much as the precocious way he batted or the joy it gave to the viewer.

Suryavanshi was confident way beyond his years, as he destroyed one of the best attacks in the tournament. He was particularly severe on the leg-side, but one of his best shots came over long-off, against Prasidh Krishna, a seamer who has been in brilliant form.

His pull off Washington Sundar over deep square-leg was another sensational six. He, in fact, dealt mostly in boundaries. The only bowler who made him pause was Rashid Khan.

Suryavanshi’s opening-wicket stand with fellow left-hander Yashasiv Jaiswal (70 not out, 40b, 9×4, 2×6) was worth 166, which came off in less than 12 overs.

By the time his incredible knock was finally ended by a yorker from Prasidh, he had taken his side closer to what would only be the third win of the season.

Every GT fielder wanted to congratulate the boy, as he walked towards his dressing room, where he got even coach Rahul Dravid excited.

Earlier, it was yet again the magnificent top three that delivered for GT. B. Sai Sudharsan (39, 30b, 4×4, 1×6), and Shubman Gill (84, 50b, 5×4, 4×6) added 93 for the first wicket; they have together made 541 this year. Then Jos Buttler (50 not out, 26b, 3×4, 4×6) made the return to his home ground for seven seasons , until he was surprisingly let go by Royals, count.

What nobody counted on was an out-of-the-world knock that would come from a teenager.

SCOREBOARD

GUJARAT TITANS

B. Sai Sudharsan c Parag b Theekshana 39 (30b, 4×4, 1×6), Shubman Gill c Parag b Theekshana 84 (50b, 5×4, 4×6), Jos Buttler (not out) 50 (26b, 3×4, 4×6), Washington Sundar c Hetmyer b Sandeep 13 (8b, 1×6), Rahul Tewatia lbw b Archer 9 (4b, 1×6), M. Shahrukh Khan (not out) 5 (2b, 1×4); Extras (lb-1, w-8): 9; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 209.

FALL OF WICKETS

1-93 (Sai Sudharsan, 10.2 overs), 2-167 (Gill, 16.4), 3-193 (Washington, 18.4), 4-202 (Tewatia, 19.2).

ROYALS BOWLING

Archer 4-0-49-1, Theekshana 4-0-35-2, Yudhvir 3-0-38-0, Sandeep 4-0-33-1, Parag 1-0-14-0, Hasaranga 4-0-39-0.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Yashasvi Jaiswal (not out) 70 (40b, 9×4, 2×6), Vaibhav Suryavanshi b Prasidh 101 (38b, 7×4, 11×6), Nitish Rana lbw b Rashid 4 (2b, 1×4), Riyan Parag (not out) 32 (15b, 2×4, 2×6); Extras (lb-1, w-4): 5; Total (for two wkts. in 15.5 overs): 212.

FALL OF WICKETS

1-166 (Suryavanshi, 11.5), 2-171 (Nitish, 12.3).

TITANS BOWLING

Siraj 2-0-24-0, Ishant (Impact Player for Gill) 2-0-36-0, Washington 1.5-0-34-0, Prasidh 4-0-47-1, Rashid 4-0-24-1, Janat 1-0-30-0, Sai Kishore 1-0-16-0.

Toss: RR.

PoM: Suryavanshi.

Royals won by eight wickets with 25 deliveries to spare.

Suryavanshi’s day out

The 14-year-old’s 38-ball 101 (7×4, 11×6) took Royals to an eight-wicket win with 25 balls to spare. Jaiswal was not out on 70