At just 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history by becoming the youngest cricketer ever to feature in the Indian Premier League. Walking into a packed Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, he opened the innings for the Rajasthan Royals against the Lucknow Super Giants, carrying the hopes of a billion hearts—and showing no signs of nervousness.
Suryavanshi delivered a clear message as he stepped up to face his first ball. Facing India’s international Shardul Thakur, the batter smashed the delivery for six over extra cover, sending the crowd into a frenzy. He followed it up with another six and a four off Avesh Khan in the second over, eventually scoring a confident 34 off just 20 balls. The moment was poetic: a teenager hitting his first IPL delivery for a six, showing composure far beyond his age.
However, the fairy-tale start ended in the ninth over when he was stumped by Rishabh Pant off the bowling of Aiden Markram. As he walked back to the dugout, television cameras captured him wiping away tears, overwhelmed by the gravity of the occasion. The Jaipur crowd, in a show of heartwarming appreciation, rose to their feet and chanted his name.
Born in 2011 in Samastipur, Bihar—about 100 kilometers from Patna—Suryavanshi has been a cricketing prodigy from the beginning. His father, Sanjeev, built a makeshift pitch in their backyard after noticing his son’s passion at the age of four. By age nine, he was enrolled in a local cricket academy, and his rise through the ranks was meteoric.
He first made headlines when, at just 12 years old, he played in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy for Bihar, scoring close to 400 runs in five matches. His performances caught the eyes of national selectors, and he was soon playing for India B in the U-19 quadrangular series and then the India A U-19 team against Bangladesh and England.
His crowning junior achievement came in a Youth Test against Australia U-19s in Chennai, where he blasted a 58-ball century—a performance that announced him as one of India’s brightest young talents. It was no surprise, then, that during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah, Rajasthan Royals engaged in a bidding war with Delhi Capitals to secure his services for ₹1.10 crore (approximately $130,000), making him the youngest ever IPL auction signing.
The Royals, aware of his immense potential and the pressure that comes with fame, kept him away from media glare in the months leading up to the tournament. He underwent intensive training at their academy in Nagpur, focusing on technical refinement and mental conditioning.
An injury to Sanju Samson after seven matches in the season made Suryavanshi’s debut possible. “He is a great kid with a really good head on his shoulders. I think he has a game which is almost 360 degrees. He is courageous and brave, and you obviously saw that,” said Sairaj Bahutule, Rajasthan Royals’ spin-bowling coach.
His batting style reflects a modern mindset—aggressive yet calculated, showing no hesitation in taking on experienced international bowlers. Despite Rajasthan narrowly losing the match by two runs, his debut stood out as a defining moment.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai captured the global impact of the moment, posting on social media: “Woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL. What a debut!”
Suryavanshi’s record-breaking appearance broke the previous record held by Prayas Ray Barman, who played in the IPL at 16 years and 154 days for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019. But the competition wasn’t just about age—it was about poise, promise, and purpose.
For a teenager still navigating school life, Suryavanshi has already lived the dream of millions. And judging by the maturity he displayed on the field, this debut might just be the first chapter in a long and illustrious career.
As he continues to grow, both in age and stature, Indian cricket has found a prodigy whose journey is only just beginning.
