Meet Vaibhav Suryavanshi – the youngest IPL player ever

A Small-Town Boy with Big Dreams

Hailing from the small village of Tajpur in Bihar, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is fast emerging as one of India’s most promising cricketing talents.

Born on March 27, 2011, his journey from playing in his backyard to donning the Rajasthan Royals jersey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is nothing short of a dream come true.

His father, Sanjeev, a farmer by profession, noticed his son’s passion for cricket early on.

To support his child’s dream, Sanjeev sold his farmland in Motipur to fund his cricket training. At the age of 9, Vaibhav was enrolled in a cricket academy in Samastipur, setting the foundation for his future.

Making History in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction

The world took notice of Vaibhav when he became the youngest cricketer ever shortlisted for an IPL auction in 2025. His raw talent and power-hitting ability caught the eye of the Rajasthan Royals, who called him for trials in Nagpur ahead of the auction.

Vaibhav didn’t disappoint—during his practice match, he smashed eight sixes and four boundaries, impressing all.

This set the stage for a bidding war between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, with the Royals eventually securing the young left-hander for a staggering INR 1.1 crore (Rs 11 million).

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson backs Vaibhav

Ahead of IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson heaped praises on the young batter.

"Vaibhav looks very confident; he was hitting sixes out of the ground at the academy. People were already talking about his power-hitting. What else can you ask for? It is all about understanding his strengths, backing him, and being there for him like an elder brother," Samson said when asked about Vaibhav’s training session ahead of the IPL 2025 season.

He further added, "The key is to keep him in the best shape and provide a relaxed environment. Rajasthan Royals ensures a positive atmosphere in the dressing room and backs its players. You never know—he might end up playing for India in a couple of years."

𝘋𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘋𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘬𝘢 in training with Vaibhav 💪🔥 pic.twitter.com/hvBVO5lN2F

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 17, 2025

A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks

Vaibhav’s rise in the short period has been extraordinary. At just 12 years old, he played in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, where he scored around 400 runs in five matches.

His performances earned him a spot in the India B U-19 squad for the Under-19 quadrangular series in November 2023, which featured India A, Bangladesh, and England.

While he didn’t make the final squad for the ICC U-19 World Cup 2024, he bounced back by impressing Bihar selectors at a U-23 selection camp.

His performances led to a historic Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar against Mumbai in January 2024, making him the youngest Indian first-class debutant since 1986 at just 12 years and 284 days.

Raising the Bar at the International Stage

Vaibhav’s potential further strengthened when he made his India U-19 debut in a youth Test against Australia in Chennai in September 2024. He smashed a 62-ball 104 in the match.

His ton was the fastest by an Indian in youth Tests and the second-fastest globally. He took only 58 balls to smash the hundred.

Later that year, Vaibhav played a crucial role in India's run to the final at the U-19 Asia Cup 2024 in the UAE.

He finished as the team’s second-highest scorer, with two crucial half-centuries: one came in a must-win group stage match against the hosts and another was a match-winning knock in the semi-finals against Sri Lanka.

The Youngest to Play List A Cricket

Vaibhav’s did not stop there and kept upping the ante at the crucial stages of the various tournaments.

He created another record when he became the youngest Indian to play List A cricket, making his debut for Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Madhya Pradesh at 13 years and 269 days old.

A fortnight later, he became the youngest Indian to score a fifty in List A cricket, smashing 71 off 42 balls against Baroda.

As IPL 2025 knocks at the door, all eyes will be on Vaibhav Suryavanshi as he prepares to shine on one of cricket's biggest stages.

The big question now is whether Rajasthan Royals will give him a spot in their playing XI or not? We’ll find out soon!