EXPLAINER
Everybody in world cricket is speaking about Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the Indian participant who made a stunning IPL debut at simply 14.
Shy schoolboy Vaibhav Suryavanshi is in dreamland at simply 14, changing into the youngest participant in Indian Premier League historical past and marking the event with an audacious first-ball six.
The fearless younger left-hander is being touted as a celebrity within the making after his immediate influence opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, when he scored 34 off 20 balls in Jaipur with three sixes and two fours.
He completed on the dropping aspect however stole the limelight as, at 14 years and 23 days, he made his debut for Rajasthan after being purchased for $130,500 in November’s public sale of gamers on the age of solely 13.
An explosive free-scoring batsman, who may bowl spin, Suryavanshi comes from India’s poorest state, Bihar, and his father is a farmer and part-time journalist, in response to Indian media experiences.
Mature past his years
{The teenager}’s rise has been swift. He made his home debut aged 12 within the Ranji Trophy in January 2024 earlier than being chosen for India’s under-19 squad in opposition to a touring Australia crew. He hit a 58-ball century – the second quickest in youth Exams after England’s Moeen Ali in 2005.
However it was the bidding warfare on the IPL participant public sale in 2024 that catapulted the teenager into international headlines. Now he finds himself among the many cricketing elite on this planet’s hottest and profitable T20 event and has been lauded by former gamers after his first present.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan tagged a clip of Suryavanshi hitting his first ball for six off seasoned India seamer Shardul Thakur and wrote on X: “That is unimaginable.”
“He’s 14 however has the thoughts of a 30-year-old,” former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned. “Vaibhav Suryavanshi appeared assured in opposition to bowlers who’ve been bowling for years.”
Former India batsman Suresh Raina mentioned, “He’ll rule cricket sooner or later. Vaibhav Suryavanshi will present what he’s able to.”
Rajasthan coach and India nice Rahul Dravid was impressed by the teenager in trials earlier than the public sale, saying Suryavanshi had “some actually good expertise”.
His cricket does the speaking
His father, Sanjeev, expressed astonishment after what occurred within the public sale.
“I’m speechless … I don’t know what to say. It’s a large factor for our household,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Categorical newspaper.
“I had a intestine feeling that he would get picked, however by no means in my wildest goals would I’ve thought that there could be a bidding warfare.”
He believes his son is in the correct crew to grasp his potential.
“Through the years, Royals have groomed the kids. Be it Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel or Riyan Parag, all are merchandise of the Rajasthan Royals franchise,” mentioned Sanjeev. “I sincerely hope that Vaibhav may even comply with the identical path.”
Vaibhav’s state coach, Pramod Kumar, described him as a quiet boy who loves his cricket.
“He’s the type of participant who has come on Earth to play cricket; he settles for nothing else,” Kumar advised The Instances of India newspaper.
“He hardly talks. However ask him about cricket and he can go on day and night time.”
Born on March 27, 2011, Suryavanshi is the primary IPL cricketer born after the event’s inception in 2008.
Prayas Ray Barman was the earlier youngest IPL participant. He was 16 years and 157 days in 2019 when he made his debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.