The 2025 Indian Premier League Mega Auction witnessed a historic moment when Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever bought by a franchise. The Rajasthan Royals secured the young prodigy, sparking widespread media attention and some debate about his actual age.
However, there has been confusion regarding Vaibhav’s age:
Official IPL Data lists him as 14 years old at the time of the auction but an April 2023 interview with BNN News suggests he would turn 14 in September 2023, making him 15 now (as of November 2024).
A plausible explanation is that the IPL’s records were compiled before his 15th birthday, leading to discrepancies.
Despite the uncertainty, Vaibhav has officially become the youngest player bought in an IPL auction, breaking the previous record set by Prayas Ray Barman, who was 16 years old when picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019.
Vaibhav’s father has addressed the age-related concerns, expressing readiness to conduct any necessary tests to verify his son’s age. He stated that Vaibhav underwent a BCCI bone age test at 8.5 years old.He has already represented India in the Under-19 category, bolstering the credibility of his age documentation.
“We don’t fear anyone. He can again undergo an age test,” his father said during an interview with PTI.
Joining Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav will train under Rahul Dravid, the celebrated T20 World Cup-winning coach. Dravid has extensive experience mentoring young talent, including several players who have transitioned from India’s U-19 team to the senior side. This opportunity is expected to accelerate Vaibhav’s development as a professional cricketer.
