Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history at just 14 years old, making an eye-catching debut for Rajasthan Royals in their narrow two-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur on Saturday.
In doing so, he also became one of the youngest ever to play a T20 match at 14 years of age.
Opening the batting in Rajasthan’s chase of 181, the left-handed Suryavanshi made an immediate impact by launching his first ball for six off India international Shardul Thakur.
He followed up with another maximum and three boundaries in a 20-ball innings worth 34 runs.
Suryavanshi, who turned 14 only last month, broke the previous record held by spinner Prayas Rai Burman, who debuted aged 16 in 2019.
The teenager shared an 85-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, setting a strong platform in pursuit of Lucknow’s 180-5.
Jaiswal top-scored with 74 off 52 balls, but Rajasthan’s momentum stalled after his dismissal in the 18th over.
Avesh Khan held his nerve in the final over, defending nine runs to hand Lucknow Super Giants a dramatic victory. Rajasthan finished on 178-5.
Suryavanshi’s rapid rise has drawn national attention. Signed for approx. £103,789 at the IPL auction, he made headlines at age 13 with a 58-ball century for India Under-19s against Australia.
He has also featured in five Ranji Trophy matches for Bihar, where he debuted aged 12.
Despite the loss, Suryavanshi’s debut marked a significant moment in IPL history, adding a new chapter to the league’s reputation for nurturing young talent.
