Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricketer from Bihar, made history by becoming the youngest player ever bought in the IPL auction. Rajasthan Royals secured him for ₹1.1 crore, instantly making him a crorepati. This marks a major milestone ahead of the 2025 IPL season, where he will become the youngest-ever cricketer to play in the league.
However, his achievement has sparked controversy, with some questioning his age. Allegations have arisen suggesting that he is 15 years old rather than the 13 years and 288 days he declared. In response, Vaibhav’s father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, strongly denied these claims, pointing out that Vaibhav had undergone a BCCI bone test at the age of 8.5, which confirmed his age. Sanjiv added that they were willing to undergo another age verification test if necessary.
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Sanjiv emphasized Vaibhav’s hard work, recalling how his son excelled in U-16 district trials at just 8 years old. Vaibhav’s selection came after a standout performance in trials for Rajasthan Royals in Nagpur, where he impressed the coaching staff by hitting three sixes in an over and a total of eight sixes and four fours.
Vaibhav, from Samastipur in Bihar, has already made a name for himself in cricket. At 12 years and 284 days, he made his Ranji Trophy debut against Mumbai during the 2023-24 season, becoming one of the youngest players in the competition’s history. He also gained attention during a Youth Test series against Australia, where he scored a remarkable 104 runs off 62 balls, becoming the youngest-ever centurion in competitive cricket at 13 years and 188 days. Vaibhav holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian at the youth level, scoring his century in just 58 balls.
Vaibhav’s rapid rise in the cricket world mirrors the early careers of greats like Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar, who also made their mark at young ages. In the IPL 2025 auction, Rajasthan Royals made headlines by acquiring Vaibhav for ₹1.1 crore, making him the youngest player ever purchased in the league’s history.
While there were controversies surrounding his age, Vaibhav’s exceptional on-field performance has left a lasting impact on selectors and cricket fans. The auction also saw major buys, including wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was sold for ₹27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants, and Shreyas Iyer, who was picked up by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore.
With IPL 2025 approaching, Vaibhav’s inclusion in Rajasthan Royals has generated excitement, and the cricketing world is eager to see how he performs in the high-profile tournament. Regardless of the age controversy, Vaibhav’s remarkable talent and achievements have already secured his place in cricketing history.
