Vaibhav Becomes the Youngest IPL Player Ever
Suryavanshi made history by becoming the youngest-ever cricketer to be signed in the Indian Premier League (IPL). At just 13 years and 243 days old, the young cricketer from Samastipur, Bihar, was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore during the IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This remarkable achievement marks a milestone not only in Vaibhav’s career but also in the IPL’s legacy of discovering and nurturing young talent.
IPL Auction: A Fierce Bidding War
The bidding for Vaibhav Suryavanshi quickly became intense, with Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals fighting for his services. In the end, Rajasthan secured the young batter, making him the youngest player ever to be signed in IPL history. He broke the record previously held by Afghanistan’s Allah Ghazanfar, who was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman in IPL 2024.
Vaibhav’s Record-Breaking Century
Before this milestone, Vaibhav made headlines as the youngest batter to score an international century. At 13 years and 288 days, he scored 104 runs off 62 balls for India U-19 in a Youth Test against Australia U-19 in Chennai. This achievement broke the previous record set by Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored a century at 14 years and 241 days.
Addressing the Age Controversy
Despite his success, Vaibhav has faced age-related controversy. Some critics have alleged that he is actually 15 years old, not 13. In response, Vaibhav’s father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, firmly denied these claims. He told news agency PTI, “When Vaibhav was 8 and a half years old, he underwent a BCCI bone test. He has already represented India U-19, and we fear no one. He can undergo another age test if required.”
Vaibhav’s Journey So Far
Vaibhav’s journey has been nothing short of impressive. He has already played five Ranji Trophy games, including one against Mumbai earlier this year. Additionally, on November 23, Vaibhav made his T20 debut for Rajasthan Royals. With his IPL signing, his future in cricket looks promising.
Looking Ahead
As Vaibhav prepares to join Rajasthan Royals, his remarkable talent continues to inspire many. Despite the controversies surrounding his age, his story is one of perseverance and breaking barriers in the world of cricket