Meet Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player in IPL at 13
What's the story
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 13-year-old cricket prodigy from Tajpur village in Bihar, recently became the youngest-ever player to feature in an Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
The talented youngster was picked up by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the impending season.
He achieved this feat after impressing the Royals during trials in Nagpur ahead of the auction.
Have a look at his journey.
Early life
Vaibhav's father sold his farm
Vaibhav's cricketing journey started when he was just four.
His father, a farmer, noticed his son's love for the game. To encourage him, he created a small playing area in their backyard and later sold his farm to support Vaibhav's cricketing dreams.
At nine, Vaibhav joined a cricket academy in Samastipur where he trained under Manish Ojha, a former Ranji player who played an instrumental role in shaping his career.
Rising star
Impressive performances at a young age
At just 12, Vaibhav played for Bihar in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, scoring around 400 runs in five games.
He was picked for India B for an Under-19 quadrangular series in Andhra Pradesh, where he scored 41 against England and eight against India A.
He went on to impress selectors at a Under-23 selection camp, which was a separate achievement.
Vaibhav then joined Bihar's Ranji Trophy squad, making his First-Class debut at 12 years and 284 days.
Records
A look at Vaibhav's stunning records
Vaibhav made headlines again when he scored a century off just 58 balls on his India Under-19 debut against Australia. This became the fastest-ever ton by an Indian in Youth Tests.
He also played a crucial role in India's journey to the Under-19 Asia Cup 2024 final.
His record-breaking run included two half-centuries, further solidifying his status as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Days later, he made his List A debut.
Form
Five FC and six List A appearances
Vaibhav, now the youngest-ever player signed in the IPL, shone in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25.
At just 13, he smashed 71 runs off 42 balls for Bihar against Baroda on December 31, 2023.
In five First-Class matches, the youngster owns 100 runs at 10 with the best of 41.
In six List A matches, he has scored 132 runs at 22. The batter has played a solitary T20, scoring 13 runs.