It is not very often that a teenager gets a spot in the senior side of any tournament, that too without playing substantial amount of cricket. Of course, the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, and even Prithvi Shaw seem to be the exceptions to this rule, but then most players take time to develop into decent cricketers.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Bagged by Rajasthan Royals
Now, it is IPL 2025 time and a young Vaibhav Suryavanshi — a 13-year-old from Bihar has made waves in Indian cricket, by becoming the youngest to get a contract in the league; who was bagged by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.10 Cr. So, does he really fit in RR scheme of things, where he is drafted in the Playing XI, or just a masterstroke by Rahul Dravid, who will nurture this kid into becoming something big?
The possibilities seem endless with Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He seems like a strong kid, who can tonk the ball a mile, and already has some experience in the senior domestic circuit for Bihar. He has played 5 first-class matches, with 100 runs, a highest score of 41 and an average of 10. In T20s, in one match he has scored 13 runs, at a strike-rate of 216.
Showed Glimpses of Brilliance in Vijay Hazare
While his best returns have come in LIST A format, where in 6 matches, he has scored 132 runs, with a best of 71 vs a strong Baroda side. Breaking down that innings further, he went on to get those runs with the help of eight fours and four sixes, in only 42 deliveries, at a strike-rate of 169.
Might Not Make Playing XI in IPL 2025
Most importantly, it had experienced bowlers like Krunal Pandya, Bhargav Bhatt and Atit Sheth. So there is plenty of talent for sure. Primarily an opener, where does he fit in the RR XI? The team has two exceptional openers in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, who have been very successful. Then the retained batters, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Nitish Rana will make the cut. So, it will really be a struggle for him to be drafted in the XI.
However, if by the end of 12th or13th match, if RR makes the playoffs, or are maybe out of contention, then the management might want to drop him, and see how he fares. Of course, as discussed, being bought by the team, definitely means they have seen something in this boy, and he might be given a longer rope in the team, that extends well beyond IPL 2025.
