Youngest Player in IPL History: The Rising Stars of Cricket 2025
The world of Indian cricket has always seen its share of bright young players, and IPL 2025 is no exception. Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the youngest player ever to be contracted by an IPL franchise this season. The Youngest Player in IPL has set new records, proving that age is just a number in the world’s most competitive T20 league. He is a 13-year-old cricketing sensation from Bihar with a story that inspires as a very typical rags-to-riches story: from a remote village to the world of the biggest T20 league.
Let’s go in-depth regarding his ascent, success, and why he is the most thrilling young talent in the sport currently.
A Small-Town Boy With Big Dreams
Vaibhav Suryavanshi was born on 27th March 2011, in Tajpur village, Bihar. Vaibhav started playing cricket at the age of four. In contrast to the majority of kids who play cricket as a ritual, Vaibhav had an excessive love for cricket from the start. Vaibhav’s father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, a farmer by occupation, recognized his son’s tireless passion for cricket. Sanjeev chose to provide Vaibhav with the best available chances. He sold his farm at Motipur to finance his son’s aspirations to play cricket.
To train Vaibhav, his father constructed a small practice area in their backyard, where the boy spent hours honing his batting. The Youngest Player in IPL represents the future of cricket, stepping onto the grand stage at an early age to compete with the best. Seeing his towering potential, he was enrolled in a cricket academy in Samastipur at the age of nine. Vaibhav’s skills flourished under the guidance of Manish Ojha, who had played Ranji Trophy.
Read More : Top 14 Tallest Cricketers in the World
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Rise in Domestic Cricket
Although Vaibhav was the youngest compared to most of his fellow contenders at the time; he soon started soaring above the rest in Bihar cricket. His genius and his natural free-flowing but aggressive style earned him a place in the team. He played at age 12 in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and scored an incredible tally of 400 runs in five matches. Such mind-blowing statistics never went unheard; shortly after, national selectors were tempted and invited him to play with India B U-19 in a quadrangular tournament along with India A, Bangladesh and England U-19 teams.
But his campaign during that tournament wasn’t as wonderful as he wanted. He managed 41 against England, a duck against Bangladesh, and eight against India A. Although those weren’t good enough for him to get himself into the India U-19 World Cup team, it only increased his attempts to improve.
Vaibhav once again turned his attention to arranging his home in Bihar and impressed the selectors of the U-23 selection camp in the process. He earned selection through performances with a history-making highlight when, at the age of 12 years and 284 days, he selected him to play for Bihar’s Ranji Trophy side. His first-class debut came against Mumbai in January 2024, thus making him one of the youngest Indian cricketers ever to step onto the soil of the Ranji Trophy, an achievement that had been accomplished by very few players before him.
To put it in perspective, both Tendulkar and Yuvraj were above 15 years of age when they made their respective first-class debuts. Every season, the Youngest Player in IPL brings fresh energy and talent, making an impact with their fearless performances. Such level of achievement at a tender age is very much a hallmark of hard work and ability.
Breaking Records on the International Stage
Vaibhav’s moment of glory came in September 2024, when he was summoned to play for India U-19 in a young Test against Australia at Chennai. What followed stunned the cricket world.
Vaibhav smashed a 62-ball 104 at 13 years and 188 days; his 58-ball century—the quickest by an Indian in young Tests. His 104 off 62 was second only to England’s Moeen Ali, who had made a 56-ball century in 2005.
Youngest Indian to Play List-A Cricket
As if all his accomplishments were not already phenomenally enough, Vaibhav broke the record for being the youngest Indian to represent India in List-A cricket when he played his first Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 season for Bihar at 13 years and 269 days of age. He broke Ali Akbar’s earlier record of 14 years and 51 days from the 1999-2000 season when he made his Vidarbha debut.
Two weeks later, he hit a 42-ball 71 against Baroda to become the youngest Indian to have made a fifty in List-A cricket. The Youngest Player in IPL often becomes a rising star, showcasing skills that promise a bright future in cricket. With every tournament that passed, Vaibhav was guaranteeing everyone that he was among the best young cricketers in the nation.
IPL 2025: The Rajasthan Royals Bet Big on Vaibhav
Vaibhav’s meteoric ascension reached its peak when he was shortlisted for the IPL 2025 mega auction, making him the youngest player in IPL history ever to be auctioned under the hammer.
Before the auction, Rajasthan Royals offered him trials in Nagpur where he proved his raw ability. He was given a situation of a match at trials when he needed to score 17 runs off an over. He hit back by scoring three sixes.
His fiery batting approach prompted a furious bidding battle between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, and Rajasthan ultimately got him for INR 1.1 crore—a staggering price for a 13-year-old first-timer.
What’s Next for Vaibhav Suryavanshi?
While the IPL 2025 season waits with bated breath to get underway, everybody is looking to see Vaibhav Suryavanshi make his debut for the Rajasthan Royals following the wait of so long. Much still to go, yes; but the meteoric rise has been nothing short of spectacular so far.
Batsman opener left-handed and aggressive in contemplation, has been compared to legends like Brian Lara and Rishabh Pant. It would not be surprising if he leaves a trail of destruction in Indian cricket over the next decade, given his score-rates under pressure conditions and ability to put pressure on a match.
Vaibhav has already accomplished what most of the professional cricketers can at least dream of at the age of 13. With proper guidance and regular hard work, there is no doubt that he is going to be one of the biggest stars of world cricket.
Read More : Virat Kohli with All Trophies
Final Thoughts
Once upon a time, that Bihar tale traveled all the way to IPL 2025, creating an inspiration for budding cricketers across the country. Making history as the Youngest Player in IPL, these young cricketers grab the spotlight with their exceptional performances. From practicing in the backyard to making records on the international stage, the story has all elements of talent, grit, and utmost family support.
As he begins his IPL career with Rajasthan Royals, the whole cricket fraternity is waiting for his next titanic inning. There is one thing certain—Vaibhav Suryavanshi is a name that will be remembered for years to come.
