Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old cricketer from Bihar, India, made a sensational debut for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 19, 2025, becoming the youngest player ever to participate in the tournament. At just 14 years and 23 days old, he opened the batting against the Lucknow Super Giants and immediately impressed by hitting his first ball for six. He went on to score 34 runs off 20 balls, including three sixes, forming an explosive 85-run opening partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Suryavanshi’s cricketing journey began early; he made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar at the age of 12 and later scored a 58-ball century for India’s U-19 team against Australia. His father played a significant role in his development, even selling land to support his son’s cricketing aspirations.
His debut performance has drawn widespread acclaim, with comparisons to cricketing greats like Yuvraj Singh and Brian Lara. Notably, Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his amazement, stating he “woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL.”
Despite Rajasthan Royals narrowly losing the match by two runs, Suryavanshi’s fearless batting and composure against top-tier bowlers have marked him as a promising talent in Indian cricket.
