Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a left-handed top-order batter from Bihar, has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to secure an IPL contract. At just 13 years and 243 days old, he signed a deal worth INR 1.10 crore (approximately $130,000) with Rajasthan Royals (RR). This incredible milestone comes after an already impressive start to his cricketing career, including a century against Australia Under-19 during a four-day match in Chennai just two months ago.
The IPL auction saw intense competition for Suryavanshi, with bids starting at INR 30 lakh. The battle eventually narrowed down to Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, with RR emerging victorious.
"He's been to our high performance centre in Nagpur, he had trials there and really impressed our coaching set-up there," RR CEO Jake Lush McCrum said after the auction ended. "He's an incredible talent and of course, you got to have the confidence so he can step up to the IPL level. So lots of work will go on in the coming months to continue to develop him but hell of a talent, and we're really excited to have him as part of the franchise."
A native of Samastipur, a town around 100 kilometres from Patna, Suryavanshi has already featured in five Ranji Trophy matches since his first-class debut against Mumbai earlier this year. Currently representing Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he made his T20 debut on November 23 in a match against Rajasthan.
One of the brightest moments in his budding career is his record-breaking century against Australia Under-19. Suryavanshi smashed 104 runs off just 58 balls, becoming the youngest player to score a century in youth cricket at 13 years and 187 days, surpassing the previous record held by Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Adding to his achievements, he also boasts an unbeaten 332 in the Randhir Verma U-19 tournament in Bihar.
Suryavanshi draws inspiration from cricket legend Brian Lara and occasionally seeks advice from former India opener Wasim Jaffer, whom he first met during a U-19 tournament in Bangladesh in 2023. His primary mentor, however, is his father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a former cricketer who shifted to coaching when his playing career didn’t reach higher levels. Recognising Vaibhav’s talent and dedication, Sanjeev has been instrumental in shaping his journey as a cricketer.
With his extraordinary talent, a supportive family, and guidance from cricketing stalwarts, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is set to make waves in the world of cricket.