Vaibhav Suryavanshi & Rajasthan Royals
The franchise that bet on a 13-year-old — and won
₹1.1Cr
Auction Price
1,028
IPL Runs
228.44
Career SR
89
IPL Sixes
The Shane Warne Philosophy
Rajasthan Royals were founded on a philosophy established by the legendary Shane Warne: back young, unproven talent and give them the freedom to express themselves. The inaugural IPL season in 2008 saw Warne lead a team of unknowns — including a young Ravindra Jadeja — to the title. That DNA of trusting youth has remained central to RR's identity.
When Kumar Sangakkara, RR's Director of Cricket, first saw Vaibhav bat in an age-group tournament, he reportedly told the team's scouts: "This is the one." At the 2025 Mega Auction, RR pursued Vaibhav with conviction, bidding ₹1.1 crore — nearly four times his base price — for a 13-year-old who had never played professional T20 cricket.
It was pure Rajasthan Royals: a bold bet on raw talent, with a long-term vision. And it paid off beyond anyone's imagination.
Season-by-Season Stats
| Season | Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2025 | 7 | 252 | 59 | 36.00 | 205.71 | 2 | 0 | 24 |
| IPL 2026 | 16 | 776 | 103 | 51.73 | 237.30 | 4 | 2 | 65 |
| Career | 23 | 1,028 | 103 | 47.63 | 228.44 | 6 | 3 | 89 |
Key Innings for RR
vs GT, IPL 2025
59 off 29
First IPL fifty. Showed he could handle the pressure of IPL cricket at 14.
vs MI, IPL 2025
51 off 27
Back-to-back fifties. Held his nerve against Mumbai's pace attack including Bumrah.
vs SRH, IPL 2026
103 off 37
First IPL century. 35-ball hundred — fastest by an Indian in IPL history. 10 sixes.
vs CSK, IPL 2026
97 off 41
Near-century in a high-stakes match. 8 sixes against Chennai's bowling attack.
vs RCB, IPL 2026
102 off 43
Second IPL century. Dominated Bangalore's bowling in a must-win game.
vs GT, IPL 2026
84 off 34
Aggressive knock that set the tone for RR's playoff push. 7 sixes.
RR & Vaibhav Timeline
Nov 2024 — The Auction
Rajasthan Royals sign 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah for ₹1.1 crore against a base price of ₹30 lakh. Kumar Sangakkara, RR's Director of Cricket, personally advocated for the pick.
Mar 2025 — IPL Debut
Vaibhav makes his IPL debut at 14 years and 23 days — the youngest player in IPL history. He opens the batting in RR's first match of IPL 2025, signaling the franchise's belief in his talent.
Mar-May 2025 — First Season
252 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 205.71, with 2 fifties and 24 sixes. A remarkable debut season that justified every rupee of the ₹1.1 crore investment.
Apr-May 2026 — Second Season — Dominance
776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30 — the highest ever for 500+ runs in any T20 tournament. 2 centuries, 4 fifties, and 65 sixes (most in any IPL season). Won Orange Cap, MVP, and Emerging Player.
May 2026 — Orange Cap Celebration
After winning the Orange Cap, Vaibhav credited Rajasthan Royals for believing in him: "RR gave a 13-year-old from Bihar a chance when nobody else would. This cap is for them."
Sangakkara on Vaibhav
"When I first saw Vaibhav bat, I knew we had to have him. He reminded me of what Shane Warne always believed — that age is irrelevant if the talent is genuine. Vaibhav doesn't bat like a 15-year-old. He bats like he's been playing international cricket for a decade. Rajasthan Royals is the perfect home for him because we believe in giving young players freedom and trust. He's repaid that trust a hundredfold."
Kumar Sangakkara, Director of Cricket, Rajasthan Royals