At just the age of 13, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made IPL history by becoming the youngest player to sign a contract. Rajasthan Royals (RR) picked him for an impressive Rs 1.10 crore during last year’s auction in Jeddah. His exceptional performance in 2024 turned heads in both domestic and international cricket. He’s expected to make it into the playing XI for a few matches in the season this year.
Coach’s praise and caution
RR’s batting coach Vikram Rathour praised the young talent but mentioned that Suryavanshi’s IPL debut would take time. “I am not sure if we will use him or not. It will depend on the strategy, the surface and the opposition. We acquired his services because he is a very special player,” Rathour shared. The coach emphasised the teenager’s potential and expressed confidence in his future success with hard work.
Suryavanshi’s achievements
Suryavanshi shone in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, scoring 71 off 42 balls for Bihar against Baroda. This feat made him the youngest Indian to score a List A fifty. On the international stage, he set a record with the fastest youth Test century by an Indian, smashing a 58-ball ton against Australia in Chennai. He also played a crucial role in India’s journey to the ACC U19 Asia Cup final, hitting two vital half-centuries.
Rathore on working with Dravid again
Rathour joined RR’s coaching setup in September 2024, reuniting with Rahul Dravid, the head coach. Their previous partnership with the Indian team had led to great success, including a World Cup win. On working with Dravid again, Rathour said, “There won’t be much difference. We have worked together before. He is a brilliant coach. I really enjoyed my tenure with him.” He also noted the benefits of working with the same group of players in the IPL, showing the focus on supporting and guiding them to achieve the best performance.
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