Career Overview
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s career is one of the fastest rises in modern cricket history. Born on March 27, 2011, in Tajpur village, Samastipur district, Bihar, he went from playing in a backyard practice net built by his father to becoming the youngest centurion in IPL and men’s T20 history — all before his 15th birthday.
A left-handed opening batter who also bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin, Sooryavanshi is known for his exceptional bat speed and fearless power-hitting. His career path runs through Bihar’s domestic cricket setup, the India Under-19 system, and the Indian Premier League, where he plays for Rajasthan Royals. In a remarkable 2026 IPL season, he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and hit a record 72 sixes, sweeping five individual awards in a single season — a first in IPL history.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi: India’s Next Cricketing Superstar
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s cricket journey began at home. In 2015, when he was four years old, his father, Sanjiv Sooryavanshi — a farmer and former amateur cricketer — noticed his son’s passion for the game and built a small practice area in their backyard in Tajpur.
is one of India’s most promising young cricket talents. Born in Bihar, he gained national attention through his exceptional batting performances at a very young age. Known for his aggressive stroke play, excellent timing, and fearless approach against bowlers, Vaibhav has represented India at the Under-19 level and impressed cricket fans with his maturity and consistency. His dedication, hard work, and remarkable achievements have made him a rising star in Indian cricket. Many experts believe that with continued development and experience, Vaibhav has the potential to become an important player for Indian cricket in the future.
Early Cricket Journey
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s cricket journey began at home. In 2015, when he was four years old, his father, Sanjiv Sooryavanshi — a farmer and former amateur cricketer — noticed his son’s passion for the game and built a small practice area in their backyard in Tajpur.
By 2019–2020, around the age of eight or nine, Vaibhav had enrolled at GenNex Cricket Academy in Patna, run by former Ranji Trophy player Manish Ojha. Samastipur to Patna is roughly 100 km, and Vaibhav and his father made this commute every alternate day so he could train under proper coaching.
His early competitive cricket came through Bihar’s age-group structure. In late 2023, he played for the Bihar Under-19 team in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. That same year, at just 12 years old, he represented India B in an Under-19 Quadrangular series, scoring 177 runs across six innings — an early signal of the prodigious form to come.
Domestic Cricket Career
Sooryavanshi’s domestic career broke age records almost from the moment it began.
Ranji Trophy Debut
Rising Talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi Makes Headlines in Domestic Cricket
In January 2024, at 12 years and 284 days old, he made his first-class debut for Bihar against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. This made him the second-youngest player to ever debut for Bihar and the fourth-youngest in the history of Indian first-class cricket.
Domestic T20 Debut
In November 2024, aged 13 years and 241 days, he made his domestic T20 debut for Bihar against Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — becoming the youngest debutant in the history of T20 cricket.
List A Debut and a Record-Breaking Double Century Effort
In December 2024, at 13 years and 269 days, he made his List A debut for Bihar against Madhya Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, setting the record for the youngest Indian List A debutant.
A year later, in December 2025 (age 14 years, 272 days), he produced one of the standout innings of his domestic career: a 36-ball century against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, going on to finish unbeaten on 190 off 84 balls. This made him the youngest player in the world to score a List A century.
India U19 Career
Sooryavanshi’s Under-19 career has been just as record-laden as his senior domestic and IPL career.
Youth Test Debut
In September 2024, at 13 years and 188 days old, he made his India U19 debut in a Youth Test against Australia U19 in Chennai. He scored a century off just 58 balls (finishing on 104), the fastest Youth Test hundred by an Indian player.
U19 Asia Cup 2025
At the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup in December 2025, Sooryavanshi scored 171 off 95 balls against UAE in Dubai — the highest score by an Indian batter in the tournament’s history, beating Himanshu Rana’s 130. The innings included 14 sixes, also a tournament record, and helped India post 433/6, the highest team total in the competition’s history. Across the tournament, he scored 261 runs in five matches.
U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 — Champion and Player of the Tournament
Sooryavanshi’s Under-19 career reached its peak in early 2026, when he led India to the U19 Cricket World Cup title. In the final against England, he scored 175 off 80 balls, including 15 fours and 15 sixes — the highest individual score in a U19 World Cup final, powering India to a 100-run win. He finished the tournament with 439 runs in seven matches, the second-highest run-scorer of the competition, and was named Player of the Tournament.
India A Recognition
His age-group form earned him senior-pathway opportunities as well. In late 2025, he represented India A against the UAE in the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 tournament, scoring 144 off 42 balls. In June 2026, following his record-breaking IPL 2026 season, he earned a maiden call-up to the India A squad for the one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. (A separate India A squad for red-ball, multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A in Galle was due to be announced at a later date, following the tri-series.)
IPL Career with Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals’ Young Sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi Showcases His Power-Hitting Skills
The Record-Breaking Auction Signing
In November 2024, Rajasthan Royals signed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for INR 1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 mega-auction. At 13 years old, he became the youngest player in history to sign an IPL contract.
IPL Debut — April 2025
He made his IPL debut on April 19, 2025, opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur, becoming the youngest debutant in IPL history at 14 years and 23 days. He hit a six off the very first ball he faced in the IPL.
Youngest Centurion in IPL History
Just nine days later, on April 28, 2025 (age 14 years, 32 days), he scored his maiden IPL century — 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. This made him the youngest centurion in IPL and men’s T20 history. He reached his hundred in 35 balls, the fastest century by an Indian batter in IPL history and the second-fastest in IPL history overall. He finished his debut IPL season (2025) with 252 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 206.56.
IPL 2026 — A Season for the Record Books
Rajasthan Royals retained Sooryavanshi ahead of IPL 2026, and what followed is widely regarded as one of the most dominant individual seasons in T20 history. Across the season, he scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30 — the highest run tally in the tournament. Key highlights of the season include:
- 72 sixes in the season, breaking Chris Gayle’s previous record of 59 sixes (set in IPL 2012) — and doing so in far fewer deliveries faced.
- A 36-ball century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the third-fastest century in IPL history.
- A blistering 16-ball fifty against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, equalling the joint-fastest fifty in IPL playoff history.
- Becoming the fastest player to reach 1,000 career IPL runs, achieving the milestone in 440 balls and breaking Andre Russell’s previous record by 105 balls.
- The highest tally of runs scored in the powerplay (overs 1–6) by any batter in a single IPL season.
For his efforts, Sooryavanshi swept five individual awards at the end of IPL 2026 — the Orange Cap (leading run-scorer), Most Valuable Player (MVP), Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, and Super Sixes of the Season — becoming the first player in IPL history to win all five awards in a single season.
Major Achievements and Records
A quick-reference summary of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s most significant career records:
- Youngest player shortlisted for an IPL auction (age 13)
- Youngest player ever signed by an IPL franchise (INR 1.1 crore, age 13)
- Youngest debutant in IPL history (14 years, 23 days)
- Youngest centurion in IPL and men’s T20 history (14 years, 32 days)
- Fastest century by an Indian batter in IPL history (35 balls)
- Fastest player to reach 1,000 IPL career runs (440 balls), surpassing Andre Russell
- Most sixes in a single IPL/T20 tournament season — 72 sixes in IPL 2026, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 59 (IPL 2012)
- Youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL history (IPL 2026)
- First player in IPL history to win five individual season awards in the same year (Orange Cap, MVP, Emerging Player, Super Striker, Super Sixes — IPL 2026)
- Youngest centurion in men’s List A cricket history (36-ball century, Vijay Hazare Trophy)
- Highest individual score by an Indian batter in U19 Asia Cup history (171 off 95 balls vs UAE)
- Highest individual score in a U19 Cricket World Cup final (175 off 80 balls vs England)
- Player of the Tournament, U19 Cricket World Cup 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 27, 2011 | Born in Tajpur village, Samastipur district, Bihar |
| 2015 (age 4) | Father builds a backyard practice area; early cricket training begins |
| 2019–2020 (age 8–9) | Enrolls at GenNex Cricket Academy, Patna, under coach Manish Ojha |
| Late 2023 | Plays for Bihar U19 in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy; scores 177 runs in six innings for India B in an U19 Quadrangular series |
| January 2024 (12y 284d) | First-class debut for Bihar vs Mumbai, Ranji Trophy |
| September 2024 (13y 188d) | India U19 debut vs Australia U19; scores a 58-ball century (104) in a Youth Test |
| November 2024 (13y 241d) | Domestic T20 debut for Bihar vs Rajasthan, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy |
| November 2024 (age 13) | Signed by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 mega-auction |
| December 2024 (13y 269d) | List A debut for Bihar vs Madhya Pradesh, Vijay Hazare Trophy |
| April 19, 2025 (14y 23d) | IPL debut vs Lucknow Super Giants; hits a six off his first ball |
| April 28, 2025 (14y 32d) | Maiden IPL century — 101 off 38 balls vs Gujarat Titans (35-ball hundred) |
| 2025 IPL season | Finishes IPL 2025 with 252 runs in 7 matches at a strike rate of 206.56 |
| November 2025 | Plays for India A at the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20; scores 144 off 42 balls vs UAE |
| December 12, 2025 | Scores 171 off 95 balls vs UAE at the U19 Asia Cup, a tournament record for an Indian batter |
| December 2025 (14y 272d) | 36-ball century vs Arunachal Pradesh, Vijay Hazare Trophy; finishes on 190 off 84 balls |
| Early 2026 | Leads India to the U19 Cricket World Cup title; scores 175 off 80 balls in the final vs England; named Player of the Tournament |
| IPL 2026 season | Scores 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30; hits a record 72 sixes; becomes fastest to 1,000 IPL runs (440 balls) |
| End of IPL 2026 | Wins five individual awards in one season — Orange Cap, MVP, Emerging Player, Super Striker, Super Sixes |
| June 2026 | Earns maiden call-up to the India A squad for the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka |
Playing Style and Strengths
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bats left-handed and is primarily an opening batter, with slow left-arm orthodox spin as a secondary skill. His game is built around a few clearly identifiable strengths:
- Exceptional bat speed: Coaches and commentators consistently point to his bat speed as a key factor behind his ability to clear the boundary with minimal backlift adjustment, even against fast bowling.
- Powerplay dominance: A significant share of his IPL run-scoring comes inside the first six overs, where fielding restrictions are in place — in IPL 2026, he set the record for the most runs scored by any batter in the powerplay phase across a season.
- Fearless shot selection against pace and spin: His major scoring innings — the IPL debut century, the U19 World Cup final knock, and his List A double-century effort — have come against a range of bowling attacks, suggesting an adaptable approach rather than a one-dimensional slogging game.
- Six-hitting ability: His season six-count in IPL 2026 (72) and his innings six-counts (14 sixes in a single U19 ODI, 11–12 sixes in multiple IPL innings) point to consistent, repeatable power, not one-off form.
- Temperament under pressure: Leading India to a U19 World Cup title and performing at a senior IPL level while still a young teenager both point to composure that goes beyond raw hitting ability.
Future Prospects
As of June 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named in the India A squad for the one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, a clear step on the senior-team selection pathway. He has also spoken publicly about wanting to play Test cricket and has described practising with the red ball, even though that side of his game has so far been seen less often than his T20 hitting.
Given his age, his next likely milestones include continued progress through India A assignments, a possible call-up to red-ball India A fixtures, and continued performances for Rajasthan Royals in future IPL seasons. Any senior India national team debut, in any format, has not yet been confirmed as of this writing — this page will be updated if and when that happens.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was born on March 27, 2011, in Tajpur, Samastipur district, Bihar.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi Batting for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
Which IPL team does Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play for? He plays for Rajasthan Royals, who signed him for INR 1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 mega-auction.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s batting style? He is a left-handed opening batter who also bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s biggest IPL record? In IPL 2026, he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 and hit 72 sixes in a single season — breaking Chris Gayle’s long-standing record of 59 sixes. He also became the fastest player to reach 1,000 career IPL runs, doing so in 440 balls.
Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the youngest centurion in IPL history? Yes. He scored his maiden IPL century (101 off 38 balls vs Gujarat Titans) on April 28, 2025, at the age of 14 years and 32 days, making him the youngest centurion in IPL and men’s T20 history.
Has Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played for the senior India team? Not yet, as of June 2026. He has been called up to the India A squad for a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, which is a step below the senior national team.
What did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi achieve at the U19 World Cup? He led India to the U19 Cricket World Cup title in early 2026, scoring 175 off 80 balls in the final against England, and was named Player of the Tournament.