Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old whose IPL dream came true

NEW DELHI: Shy schoolboy Vaibhav Suryavanshi is in dreamland at just 14, having become the youngest player in Indian Premier League history and marking the occasion with an audacious first-ball six.

The fearless young left-hander is being touted as a superstar in the making after his instant impact opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, when he scored 34 off 20 balls in Jaipur including three sixes and two fours. He finished on the losing side but stole the limelight as, at 14 years and 23 days old, he made his debut for Rajasthan after being bought for $130,500 in November’s player’s auction when he was still only 13. An explosive free-scoring batsman, who can also bowl spin, Suryavanshi comes from India’s poorest state, Bihar, and his father is a farmer and part-time journalist, according to Indian media.

The teenager’s rise has been swift. He made his domestic debut aged 12 in the Ranji Trophy in January 2024, then was selected for India’s under-19 squad against a touring Australia team.