Rajasthan Royals Add 13-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi to Their Squad

Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid has spoken about the team's decision to add 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi to their squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Dravid believes it will be a good environment for the young player to grow and develop his skills.

Suryavanshi was picked up by the Royals for a whopping Rs 1.1 crore during the IPL mega auction, surprising many fans. Dravid explained that the team was impressed with Suryavanshi's skills when he came for trials.

"Vaibhav just came to our trials and we were really happy with what we saw. I think, he's got some really good skills, so we thought it might be a good environment for him to grow in," Dravid said in a video shared on IPL's official social media handle.

There was a fierce bidding war for the young player, with Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals vying for his inclusion. Ultimately, the Royals emerged victorious with their winning bid of Rs 1.1 crore.

Born in Bihar in 2011, Suryavanshi is the youngest player on the IPL roster. He made his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024 at the tender age of 12 years and 284 days. Last month, he showcased his talent by smashing a 58-ball century for India U19 against Australia in Chennai.

Suryavanshi's father, Sanjeev Suryavanshi, expressed his gratitude to the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) President Rakesh Tiwari for playing a pivotal role in his son's cricketing journey. He acknowledged the sacrifices the family had to make and emphasized that Suryavanshi is still young and may not fully grasp the significance of his achievement.

"If Rakesh Tiwai sir wasn't there I don't think my child would have got the chance to play cricket for Bihar. We even had to sell our land due to financial issues but I'm happy for Vaibhav. He is a still a kid and might not understand what he has done today. I would like to thank Rakesh Tiwari sir who saw a potential in my son and gave him the chance," Sanjeev Suryavanshi said in a release from BCA.

Suryavanshi is currently representing Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, having made his T20 debut against Rajasthan on November 23. His inclusion in the IPL is a testament to his talent and potential, and it will be interesting to see how he develops in the years to come.