Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old batting prodigy from Bihar, became the youngest-ever player to be signed at an IPL auction when Rajasthan Royals secured him for ₹1.1 crore during the 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah. The bidding battle began at Suryavanshi’s base price of ₹30 lakh, with Rajasthan Royals outbidding Delhi Capitals to acquire the promising youngster.
Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals’ head coach, expressed optimism about Suryavanshi’s potential to grow within the team. Recalling the first time the teenager attended trials at the Royals’ camp, Dravid highlighted the remarkable skills Suryavanshi displayed, convincing the franchise to invest in his talent. “Vaibhav just came to our trials, and we were really happy with what we saw. I think he has got some really good skills. So we thought it would be a good environment for him to grow,” Dravid said.
Suryavanshi’s cricketing journey began at the age of nine when his father enrolled him in a cricket academy in Samastipur. His talent became evident as he progressed through various stages of junior cricket. After initial training, he advanced to coaching under Manish Ojha, a former Ranji player.
The teenager made his mark on the domestic cricket scene with an outstanding debut for the Bihar team in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, scoring nearly 400 runs in five matches at just 12 years old. He later represented India B U-19 in a quadrangular series in Andhra Pradesh and India A in matches against Bangladesh and England U-19 teams.
In first-class cricket, Suryavanshi debuted in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, playing against Mumbai. He also showcased his explosive batting skills during a youth Test against Australia U-19 in Chennai earlier this year, scoring a century off just 58 balls.
Dravid, known for nurturing young talents during his tenure as India U-19 coach, hopes Suryavanshi’s time at Rajasthan Royals will pave the way for his cricketing future. The franchise’s decision to invest in such a young talent signals its commitment to fostering emerging players and shaping the next generation of cricket stars.
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