2 weeks Ago
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old baby-faced cricketer, instantly became a crowd favourite as he strode out with Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) against the Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Saturday. Determination evident on his face, the young left-hander electrified the Sawai Mansingh Stadium when he launched the very first ball he faced for a towering six over extra cover in the fourth delivery of the opening over from LSG pacer Shardul Thakur. The ball soared into the stands as cameras caught a cheeky smile from injured RR skipper Sanju Samson in the dugout.
With that audacious first-ball six, Suryavanshi entered an elite club featuring names like Rob Quiney, Kevon Cooper, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Aniket Choudhary, Javon Searles, Siddesh Lad, Mahesh Theekshana, and Sameer Rizvi. But did the young Bihari prodigy plan this remarkable entry in IPL 2025? Well, the social media handle of the Rajasthan Royals shared an old video of the player where he asked his fellow teammate if he had ever hit a six in the first delivery. "Has it ever happened that you’ve gone in to bat and hit a six off the very first ball? (Aisa kabhi hua hai gaye ho aap aur first ball pe chakka mar diya ho?)" he had asked, not knowing what fate had in store for him.
And as destiny would have it, that’s exactly what unfolded when he stepped into the stadium to face his first delivery. Watch the video here: Manifested ???? pic.twitter.
com/2DuAkOXPNW — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 20, 2025 Suryavanshi, born on March 27, 2011 -- the year when India won the Cricket World Cup under MS Dhoni -- has played just five First-Class games for Bihar in the 2024-25 season. He had made history in the IPL 2025 auction when, as a 13-year-old, he became the youngest to get an IPL contract, being bought by the Royals for Rs 1.1 crore.
He has also represented India Under-19, scoring a 58-ball century in a four-day game against Australia Under-19. Before Suryavanshi, Prayas Ray Barman was the youngest cricketer to play in the IPL at 16 years and 157 days. Barman had played for RCB against SRH in 2019.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman played for Punjab Kings against Delhi Capitals in 2018 when he was 17 years and 11 days old. Riyan Parag, who led RR on Saturday, is the fourth youngest on the list, having donned the Royals' jersey against Chennai Super Kings in 2019 at the age of 17 years and 152 days. (With PTI inputs).
