Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi makes sensational IPL debut

Dubai: Before he had even faced a ball, Vaibhav Suryavanshi had everyone talking. After his first two overs at the crease, they were shouting.

The 14-year-old from Bihar lived up to the hype on Saturday, smashing 34 runs on his debut for Rajasthan Royals and becoming the youngest-ever player to feature in the Indian Premier League.

The left-hander had triggered a bidding war at the auction thanks to his performances at age-group level, eventually going to Rajasthan Royals for Rs11 million — three times his base price.

Thrown into the spotlight after captain Sanju Samson was ruled out with injury, Suryavanshi seized his opportunity with fearless strokeplay. He opened his IPL account with a six off Shardul Thakur, then dispatched Avesh Khan over the ropes in the following over.

Walking in after a solid start from the top order, Suryavanshi combined with Yashasvi Jaiswal to add 85 runs for the third wicket. Chasing 181, Rajasthan looked comfortable with the pair at the crease, especially as the teenager kept the scoreboard ticking with aggressive intent.

Suryavanshi had already been making headlines during Rajasthan’s training sessions ahead of IPL Season 18, regularly clearing the boundary with ease. On debut, he translated that promise into performance, hitting three sixes and two fours in his quick-fire knock.

The left-hander’s maturity stood out even more than his power-hitting — he rotated strike, picked gaps, and never looked rushed against quality bowling.

In the build-up to the match, Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson had spoken about Suryavanshi during JioHotstar’s ‘SuperStar’ segment, calling him “IPL-ready” and praising his confidence and clarity.

“Young players today don’t lack confidence and understand the brand of Indian cricket that needs to be played,” Samson said.

“For me, rather than giving advice, I prefer observing first — how a youngster wants to play his cricket, what he likes, and what kind of support he needs from me. Then, I work my way around that. Vaibhav looks very confident; he was hitting sixes out of the ground at the academy. People were already talking about his power-hitting. What else can you ask for? It is all about understanding his strengths, backing him, and being there for him like an elder brother,” he added.

Suryavanshi’s debut was more than just a novelty — it was a statement. For a team known for backing young talent, Rajasthan Royals may have just found their next star. And for Indian cricket, a bold new chapter might have just begun — signed with a six.