13 year old cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, from Bihar, made his debut in the U19 Asia Cup during the IND vs PAK match on Saturday at the Dubai Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Earlier, he captured everyone’s attention when he became the youngest player to be sold in the history of the IPL mega auction. Rajasthan Royals (RR) acquired him for a staggering INR 1.10 crore after a bidding war with Delhi Capitals (DC). The auction, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saw Vaibhav break records and set a new benchmark.
Focusing on what’s happening right now
Before the match, on being asked about the hype and trends on social media about him. Vaibhav said “I’m currently focused on my game. I’m not bothered by what’s happening around.” Vaibhav recently scored a hundred in under 19 level. On being asked about that, he said “It was a good feeling to score a hundred on the debut and it was a good experience for him to play red ball cricket and he is excited to have a knock in the white ball as well”. He added.
“I look up to Brian Lara. I watch his innings and feel inspired to play like him. I try to practice and apply his style in my game.” He concluded.
India bowling first
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat, forcing the Indian team to bowl first. Pakustan’s captain Saad Baig said that this wicket is suitable for batting.
A prodigy with a bright future
Vaibhav’s journey to stardom has been exceptional. He recently smashed the fastest century by an Indian in Under-19 Tests. Playing against Australia Under-19s in Chennai, he reached the milestone in just 58 balls during his debut red-ball match. Earlier this year, he also became the fourth-youngest Indian to debut in a first-class match. At just 12 years and 284 days, he represented Bihar in the Ranji Trophy against Mumbai.
Dream start with Rajasthan Royals
Vaibhav will now be working under the legendary Rahul Dravid, who returned as RR’s head coach. His talent was evident during trials in Nagpur, where Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour tested him in a high-pressure scenario. Vaibhav hit three sixes to score 17 runs in an over, leaving everyone impressed. His father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, shared how Rajasthan identified Vaibhav’s potential and backed him.
A son of Bihar, A star of India
Sanjiv, proud of his son’s achievements, described Vaibhav as “not just my son, but the son of all Bihar.” He recalled the sacrifices made to support his son’s cricketing dreams, including selling land to fund his training. From excelling in district-level trials at the age of eight to now representing India in the Under-19 Asia Cup, Vaibhav’s dedication is paying off.
