In a groundbreaking moment for cricket, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has become the youngest player ever selected at the IPL auction. The Rajasthan Royals secured the young prodigy for ₹11 million INR (approximately $130,000) in a competitive bidding war with the Delhi Capitals during the auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A Rising Star
Vaibhav’s talent has been making waves in Indian cricket:
- At just 12 years old, he debuted in the Ranji Trophy for Bihar, facing Mumbai.
- He achieved a triple-century in a local tournament and scored a remarkable 58-ball century for India’s under-19 team against Australia in September 2024.
Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals’ head coach, expressed confidence in Vaibhav’s potential:
“I think he’s got some really good skills, so we thought it might be a good environment for him to grow in.”
Royals CEO Jake Lush McCrum echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the franchise’s commitment to nurturing Vaibhav’s talent at their high-performance center in Nagpur.
Record-Breaking Auction
This year’s IPL auction also set new benchmarks:
- Shreyas Iyer was acquired by the Punjab Kings for a staggering ₹267.5 million INR ($3.17 million).
- Rishabh Pant broke the record, joining the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹270 million INR ($3.20 million).
IPL’s Growing Legacy
As the world’s premier short-format cricket league, the IPL continues to captivate millions:
- Over 500 million viewers tuned in for the 2023 edition.
- Media rights for 2023-2027 were sold for an impressive $6.2 billion USD.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s selection highlights the IPL’s role as a platform for extraordinary talent, regardless of age, further cementing its status as a global cricketing phenomenon.
