Vaibhav Suryavanshi: The 13-Year-Old Indian Cricketer Who's Taking IPL by Storm

13-Year-Old Cricketer Makes History in IPL Auction

Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 11 million rupee fee may seem modest compared to the massive sums paid...

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricketer, has made history by becoming the youngest player to be sold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction for ₹11 million.

A 13-year-old Indian teenager, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, has made history by becoming the youngest player to be sold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the young cricketer.

Vaibhav was sold to the Rajasthan Royals for 11 million rupees (approximately €125,000 or $130,000) in the IPL auction. As part of the Rajasthan Royals, he will have the opportunity to learn from renowned coach Rahul Dravid and play alongside accomplished players, including Indian national team members and batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal.

So, who is Vaibhav Suryavanshi? Hailing from the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Vaibhav is a talented left-handed batter. His cricketing prowess came to the forefront in 2024 when, at just 12 years old, he was selected to play for his local state team in January.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi has already showcased his impressive batting skills as a powerful opening batsman. In September this year, he was selected to play for the India under-19 team in a match against Australia under-19s. Notably, he scored a century against opponents significantly older than him, demonstrating his remarkable talent.

Although Suryavanshi has excelled in the longer format of cricket, the IPL is a T20 tournament characterized by short-format, high-scoring games. Interestingly, Suryavanshi has only played one professional T20 game to date, which was for Bihar against the Rajasthan state side - just three days before the Rajasthan Royals signed him.

Regarding Suryavanshi's potential participation in this year's IPL, there are no age restrictions for players competing in the tournament or entering its auction. In theory, this means that Suryavanshi could start competing immediately, although it remains to be seen whether he will be included in the Rajasthan Royals' lineup.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi is unlikely to participate in the 2025 IPL tournament, scheduled to take place from March 14 to May 25. The tournament will feature the world's top cricketers, and it's expected that more experienced players will take the field.

Although Suryavanshi may not get game time, he will benefit from the expertise of coach Rahul Dravid. As one of India's greatest cricketers and former head coach of the Indian national team (2021-2024), Dravid's guidance will be invaluable to the young player.

During his time with the Rajasthan Royals, Suryavanshi will spend over two months learning from some of the best cricketers in the world. He will be mentored by top Indian batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, as well as international players who will be part of the Rajasthan Royals squad.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi's 11 million rupee fee may seem modest compared to the massive sums paid to top players in the IPL auction. For instance, Indian superstar Rishabh Pant was sold for a record-breaking 270 million rupees on the opening day of the auction.

However, Suryavanshi's fee is still a significant amount, exceeding his base price of 3 million rupees. Notably, his price surpasses that of established international cricketers like Roston Chase from the West Indies and England's Chris Jordan. This highlights the high expectations surrounding the young player's potential.