Patna: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricket prodigy from Bihar, has made history by becoming the youngest player in the Indian Premier League (IPL), younger even than the league itself, which began in 2008. Hailing from Tajpur in Samastipur district, Vaibhav has been signed by Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.10 crore in the IPL auction, far exceeding his base price of ₹30 lakhs.
The auction saw a bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals for Vaibhav. Delhi initiated the bids and continued up to ₹1 crore, but Rajasthan secured the young talent with a winning bid of ₹1.10 crore. Vaibhav is now set to make his IPL debut in the upcoming season.
A Rising Talent from Samastipur
Born on 27 March 2011 to Sanjeev and Aarti in Tajpur, Samastipur, Vaibhav has displayed exceptional cricketing skills from an early age. A left-handed batsman known for his aggressive style, he garnered attention with his performance in the 2023 Vinoo Mankad Under-19 One-Day Cricket Tournament. Representing Bihar, Vaibhav scored 392 runs in just five innings, including a century and three half-centuries, earning him a spot in the Challenger Trophy.
Representing India at the Under-19 Level
Vaibhav was later selected for the India B team, competing in a quadrangular series against England, Bangladesh, and India A. He impressed with scores of 53 and 75 runs against England and Bangladesh, respectively, but narrowly missed selection for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa due to inconsistent performances in subsequent matches.
Record-Breaking Youth Test Century
In a Youth Test match against Australia, Vaibhav created history by smashing a century off just 58 balls, becoming the youngest Indian to achieve this milestone in Youth Test cricket. At 13 years and 188 days, he also came close to breaking Moeen Ali’s world record for the fastest Youth Test century, missing it by just two balls.
Youngest Ranji Trophy Debutant for Bihar
Vaibhav’s remarkable journey continued in January 2024 when he made his first-class debut for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy against Mumbai. At just 12 years and 284 days, he became India’s youngest first-class cricketer since 1986 and the second youngest to represent Bihar in the Ranji Trophy. This debut catapulted him into the spotlight, earning him recognition in cricketing circles across the globe.
Eyeing the Under-19 Asia Cup
Vaibhav is now preparing to represent India in the Under-19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE starting 29 November. Inspired by his idol, West Indies legend Brian Lara, the left-handed batsman dreams of making an indelible mark in international cricket.
Vaibhav’s selection in the IPL and his extraordinary achievements at such a young age have captured the imagination of cricket fans. As he gears up to represent Rajasthan Royals in the world’s most popular cricket league, expectations are high for this young talent from Bihar to achieve greatness in the years to come.
