Rajasthan Royals (RR) made waves by signing 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a hefty ₹1.1 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. While still an untested talent, the franchise sees immense potential in the young batter. In a recent interview with AB de Villiers on YouTube, RR captain Sanju Samson shared insights into the team’s bold decision.
Sanju revealed that the RR management was particularly impressed by Vaibhav’s explosive century against Australia in an Under-19 Test match. The teenager smashed a blistering 104 off 62 balls, which included 14 boundaries and 4 sixes, before being run out. His innings, highlighted by a century in just 58 balls, is second only to Moeen Ali’s record for the fastest Under-19 Test hundred.
RR’s Legacy of Nurturing Young Talent
Sanju also highlighted the franchise’s history of spotting and grooming young talent. He pointed to players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel, who were given a platform by RR and are now making significant contributions to Indian cricket.
“Rajasthan Royals have always been about finding young talent and turning them into champions. Look at Yashasvi Jaiswal—he joined us as a promising youngster and is now a star of the Indian team. The same goes for Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. RR’s mission isn’t just to win the IPL but also to contribute champions to Indian cricket. It’s going to be exciting to meet Vaibhav,” Sanju said.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 13, Becomes Youngest Centurion in Youth Cricket History
Vaibhav’s Growing Stardom
Vaibhav is already making waves in domestic cricket. He became the youngest Indian to debut in the Ranji Trophy last season and later broke another record as the youngest player to feature in a List-A match at just 13 years and 269 days. He also showcased his talent in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2024, scoring two half-centuries, although India fell short in the final.
RR’s investment in Vaibhav Suryavanshi reflects their commitment to building future stars while keeping an eye on immediate success.
