IPL 2025 mega auction: A total of 1,574 players registered for the auction. The list was narrowed down to 577 players. However, the biggest buzz surrounds player number 491: Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
At just 13 years of age, Vaibhav became the youngest player to be sold at the IPL auction. He was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for a whopping Rs 1.10 crore by the inaugural champions and is all set to grow under the mentorship of India legend Rahul Dravid. He was registered for a base price of Rs 30 lakh and fetched interests from Delhi Capitals too, who made the opening bid. Rajasthan joined in at Rs 35 lakh and eventually sealed the teenager for Rs 1.10 crore, making him the youngest crorepati in IPL history.
Earlier this year in January, Vaibhav made headlines when he debuted in the prestigious Ranji Trophy for Bihar at just 12 years and 284 days old, becoming the eighth youngest player to feature in first-class cricket globally. His introduction to senior-level cricket was challenging, as he managed scores of 19, 12, 0, and 0 in his first four innings. Despite a rocky start, Suryavanshi’s potential earned him a spot in the India U19 squad for a series against Australia A in September-October.
In his debut red-ball match for the India U19 team, Vaibhav made history by smashing the fastest hundred by an Indian in Under-19 Tests. Opening the batting against Australia U19 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, he notched up his century in just 58 balls. His blistering innings, which included 14 boundaries and 4 sixes, ended with him being run out on 104 off 62 balls as India won the unofficial Test.
However, his form wavered in subsequent innings, with two single-digit scores before he returned to the senior Bihar squad for the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. Against Karnataka, he struggled with the bat but managed to take one wicket. In the match against Madhya Pradesh, he showed promise with a second-innings score of 41 but was unable to maintain momentum, faltering again in his next outing against Punjab in Mohali.
To date, Vaibhav has played five first-class matches, scoring 100 runs across 10 innings, with a highest score of 41. While his journey in senior cricket has had its ups and downs, his early achievements at the junior level underscore his immense potential.
Before stepping into the Ranji circuit and representing India U19, Vaibhav caught eyeballs while playing for Bihar U19 in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy at just 12 years old. He emerged as a standout performer, finishing as the eighth-highest run-scorer with 393 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 78.60.
Last year, he was part of the India B U19 team in the Quadrangular Under-19 series, where he accumulated 177 runs across six innings, including two half-centuries. Recently, Vaibhav’s growing stature in junior cricket was further validated when he was named in India’s squad for the ACC U19 Men’s Asia Cup 2024.
Hailing from the village of Tajpur in Bihar, Vaibhav’s cricketing journey began at the age of nine under the guidance of his father, who was also his first coach. His father’s dream and unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping Vaibhav’s career thus far. As a left-hander, Vaibhav draws inspiration from West Indies legend Brian Lara, the former West Indies great renowned for dismantling opposition bowlers with ease and grace. However, his batting style has often been likened to Ishan Kishan, owing to his unique bat swing and versatility in playing shots across the field.
Vaibhav’s immense potential makes him a rising star to watch. It wouldn’t be surprising if he secures an IPL contract in the upcoming mega auction, as franchises look to invest in fresh talent for the future.