Sanju Samson, captain of Rajasthan Royals (RR), spoke highly of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest player ever signed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at just 13 years old. Samson praised Suryavanshi’s ability to hit sixes and suggested he is prepared to make a significant impact.
Suryavanshi became part of the Royals for Rs 1.1 crore during the IPL mega-auction last year, which was considered a major surprise. Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, Vaibhav is the youngest player on record. He debuted in first-class cricket for Bihar in January 2024 at the young age of 12 years and 284 days. He also demonstrated his talent last year in an India U19 match against Australia in Chennai, where he impressively scored a century in 58 balls.
Furthermore, he was the seventh-highest scorer in the ACC Under 19 Asia Cup 2024-25, accumulating 176 runs in 5 matches with a top score of 76 not out.
In an interview with JioHotstar for the ‘SuperStar’ program, Samson mentioned that today’s young players possess strong confidence and understand the aggressive style of cricket expected in India.
Samson explained his approach to mentoring young players: he prefers to observe their playing style and understand their needs before offering advice. He noted Vaibhav’s confidence and powerful hitting ability, emphasizing the importance of supporting his strengths and acting as a mentor.
Sanju believes Vaibhav, who has already played T20 cricket for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is ready to contribute meaningfully. He stressed the Rajasthan Royals’ commitment to creating a relaxed and positive environment to help players like Vaibhav thrive. Samson even speculated that Suryavanshi could potentially play for India in the coming years and feels he is ready for the challenges of the IPL, capable of delivering impactful performances.
Rajasthan Royals will begin their IPL 2025 season against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on March 23.
