Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Growing up in Tajpur, a village with limited resources, Vaibhav's passion for cricket was evident from a young age. Recognizing his son's enthusiasm, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, Vaibhav's father, made significant sacrifices to nurture his talent, including selling a portion of their land to fund his cricketing aspirations. At the age of nine, Vaibhav enrolled in a cricket academy in Samastipur, where he honed his skills under the guidance of former Ranji cricketer Manish Ojha.

Suryavanshi's significant breakthrough came during the Vinod Mankad Trophy. He emerged as the top run-scorer, amassing close to 800 runs across eight matches, where he amassed 400 runs in five matches, showcasing his batting prowess. This performance led to his selection for Bihar's Ranji Trophy team.

Later in the same year, Suryavanshi made his maiden appearance in the shortest format, playing for Bihar against Rajasthan at Rajkot, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Opening the innings for the side, he started to smash the bowlers from the very first delivery having a clear mindset. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make the most of the start and scored 13 runs but at a strike rate of 216.

Suryavanshi's talent transcended domestic boundaries, earning him a spot in the India Under-19 team. In a Youth Test series against Australia Under-19, he delivered a stellar performance, scoring a 58-ball century in Chennai. This innings not only highlighted his aggressive batting style but also cemented his reputation as a rising star.

The pinnacle of Suryavanshi's burgeoning career came during the IPL 2025 auction, where he became the youngest player ever to be signed in the league's history. The Rajasthan Royals secured his services for INR 1.10 crore.

Suryavanshi's batting style is characterized by aggressive stroke play, drawing comparisons to a young Yuvraj Singh. His ability to adapt to different formats and conditions at such a young age speaks volumes about his potential.

(As of March 2025)