How 13-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi Secured an IPL Contract with Rajasthan Royals, the 2008 Champions

Vaibhav Suryavanshi recently scored a century for India U-19 against Australia U-19, making him the youngest Indian to achieve this feat.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi's family was overjoyed when the 13-year-old became the youngest player to sign an Indian Premier League (IPL) contract on Monday during the blockbuster auction in Jeddah. Starting at ₹30 lakh, the Bihar prodigy triggered a bidding battle between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, eventually landing with the 2008 champions for ₹1.10 crore.

Suryavanshi, who made his T20 debut for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) tournament on Monday, has been making headlines throughout the year. He made his Ranji Trophy debut against Mumbai at 12 years and 284 days, breaking the tournament's record and becoming the youngest player in history.

The southpaw was only 12 years old when he hit nearly 400 runs for Bihar in five Vinoo Mankad Trophy matches.

What made the Royals invest in Suryavanshi?

According to his father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, the Rajasthan Royals summoned his son for tryouts in Nagpur. Vikram Rathour, the Rajasthan Royals' batting coach, set Suryavanshi in a match situation in which he needed to score 17 runs in an over.

The kid blasted three sixes in an over to seal the deal. Suryavanshi struck eight sixes and four fours during the trials, impressing the Rajasthan Royals support staff, who identified the adolescent as a future star.

Unlike the other recent prodigies, Suryavanshi has yet to make a meaningful impact in first-class cricket despite making waves in the junior circuit. He averages only 10 in five matches, with a high of 41.

Suryavanshi caught the attention of scouts earlier this year when he hit a 62-ball 104 for India U-19 against Australia U-19 in a Youth Test at home. In the process, he became the youngest Indian batsman to hit an international century.

Suryavanshi struck a six-ball 13 in his SMAT debut before falling to Rajasthan pacer Deepak Chahar, who was sold to Mumbai Indians for ₹9.25 lakh.