Who is Vaibhav Suryavanshi? Only the 'Youngest Ever IPL Player'

Every year, the IPL begins well before the actual season kicks off. This year, it started on an even grander stage, as it was the year of the Mega Auction, an event that occurs every three years. During this auction, the management of each team gets a chance to refresh their rosters. Many surprising transfers and retentions took place, and new records were set.

While Rishabh Pant emerged as the highest-bid player, securing a Rs. 27 crore deal from the Lucknow Super Giants, some big names like David Warner and Prithvi Shaw went unsold. Amidst these notable players not being picked by any team, one boy from a small village in Bihar made history as the youngest player ever bought in the IPL. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old left-handed batsman, was purchased by the Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 1.10 crore due to his exceptional talent in junior cricket.

Let’s delve into his cricketing journey, but first, let’s explore his personal background.

Vaibhav's Background

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar’s Tajpur village. He had been interested in cricket since childhood, and at the age of just 4, his father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, a farmer by profession, recognised this talent in his son. To nurture this talent, he built a small playing area in the backyard of their house. When he realised that Vaibhav was serious about the sport, he even sold his farm in another village to fund his dreams.

Vaibhav's Cricketing Career 

Once Vaibhav turned nine, Sanjiv enrolled him in a cricket academy in the nearby town of Samastipur. After learning and practising at the academy for almost two-and-a-half years, he gave Under-16 trials for the Vijay Merchant Trophy but was kept on standby due to his age. After the trial, he started coaching under Manish Ojha, a former Ranji player, and quickly made his name in Bihar’s junior cricket. Despite his age, he used to play in various teams and compete against people double his age. 

He scored 400 runs in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy for Bihar in just five matches, a standout performance that captured the selectors' attention. Subsequently, he was selected for the India B U-19 team to participate in an Under-19 quadrangular series held in Mulapadu, Andhra Pradesh, in November 2023. He later got an opportunity to play for the ‘A squad’ of the U-19 teams; however, he couldn’t perform well, which cost him a spot in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024 team.

Vaibhav's Breakthrough Moment 

However, the youngster bounced right back and impressed Bihar selectors in a U-23 selection camp to earn a place in the state’s Ranji Trophy squad. At just 12 years and 284 days in January 2024, he made his first-class cricket debut in Bihar’s Ranji Team in the Elite Group B clash against Mumbai. At this point he became the youngest Indian to make a first-class debut since 1986 and the second-youngest to ever play in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar. In fact In fact, only three Indians - Alimuddin, SK Bose and Mohammad Ramzan to date have played first-class cricket at a younger age than him. 

Vaibhav's Series of Records Start Here

This string of achievements didn’t end there for the young prodigy, as he added another feather to his cap by making his India U-19 debut in a youth Test match against Australia in Chennai. In September, he smashed a remarkable 104 off just 62 balls before being run out. At just 13 years and 188 days old, he set a new record for the fastest hundred ever scored by an Indian in youth Tests and the second-fastest overall, reaching the milestone in just 58 balls.

Adding to his accolades, Suryavanshi has been named in the India squad for the upcoming U-19 Asia Cup in the UAE. As we all know, 2024 has been a year of extraordinary milestones for this young talent. He was also bought by the Rajasthan Royals, making history as the youngest player ever in the IPL. Truly, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s cricketing journey in 2024 has been nothing short of exceptional.