At only 14 years old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has quickly risen to prominence in international cricket following his IPL debut. He is the youngest player to make his IPL debut, and also the youngest Indian to feature in a List A match. Rajasthan Royals (RR) bought him for INR 1.10 crore at the 2025 auction, sparking speculation about commercial motives. Initially, Suryavanshi didn’t play, but an injury to captain Sanju Samson provided him with an opportunity.
He made his IPL debut on April 19 against Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored 34 runs off 20 balls. Then, on April 28, Suryavanshi made history by becoming the youngest player to score a century in the IPL, blasting 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. His century, achieved in just 35 balls, is the second-fastest in IPL history, trailing only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball record.
His remarkable IPL displays, alongside a stunning 190 runs off 90 balls for India U-19 ahead of their England tour, have sparked comparisons to the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. Similar to Suryavanshi, Tendulkar’s journey also began early, making his Test debut at the age of 16. His legendary career speaks for itself.
With his impressive form, many fans are calling for Suryavanshi’s inclusion in the senior Indian team, especially for the Test squad. However, former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju has urged to be patient, suggesting the youngster should continue to develop before stepping up to the senior level.
“Yes, it will take time. He needs to prove himself in Under-19 World Cups and perform consistently in domestic cricket, especially in four-day games. We can afford to be patient. Talent-wise, we’ve already seen what he can do with a white ball,” Raju explained.
He also downplayed comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar, highlighting the legendary batsman’s early domestic achievements before his India debut.
“It’s all about consistency. Take someone like Sachin, for instance. He scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut, then followed that with hundreds in the Duleep Trophy and Rest of India games all three-day, four-day, and five-day matches. So, when you see a player’s talent, it’s important to give him the time to play, perform, and prove himself. If he does, why not bring him in?” Raju added.