Google CEO Sundar Pichai was among those stunned by the moment. “Woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL!!!! What a debut!” he posted on X, reacting to 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s historic debut for Rajasthan Royals on Saturday. The left-handed batter became the youngest-ever player in IPL history, making an immediate impact as an impact substitute against Lucknow Super Giants.
Indian batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history on Saturday, becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at just 14 years old. The Rajasthan Royals brought him in as an impact substitute during their match against the Lucknow Super Giants.
The left-handed batter had been picked up by Rajasthan for $130,500 in the November auction—when he was still only 13 years old—securing him a place in the lucrative T20 tournament.
At 14 years and 23 days, Suryavanshi shattered the previous record for the IPL’s youngest debutant, surpassing Prayas Ray Barman, who was 16 years and 157 days when he debuted for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019.
He was drafted in as an impact player at Rajasthan’s home ground in Jaipur, after skipper Sanju Samson was ruled out with an injury. Suryavanshi then walked out to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, replacing medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma as the team chased a target of 181.
The teenager made an immediate impression, smacking his very first ball for six—a flat-batted shot over the extra-cover boundary off pacer Shardul Thakur.
Nicknamed "Boss Baby" by TV commentators—a nod to the animated film—the baby-faced Suryavanshi scored 34 runs before being stumped off South African spinner Aiden Markram. His 20-ball knock included two fours and three sixes, and he shared an 85-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Jaiswal, a Test player for India with 19 caps.
Hailing from Bihar, one of India’s poorest states, Suryavanshi’s background has drawn attention. His father is a farmer and part-time journalist, according to Indian media reports.
An explosive batter, he first came into the spotlight after scoring a century in just 58 balls during an Under-19 Test against Australia—the second-fastest youth Test ton after Moeen Ali’s 56-ball hundred for England in 2005.
Suryavanshi made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar at just 12 years old, in January last year.
Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid, who was impressed with the youngster during a net session ahead of the auction, later said Suryavanshi has "some really good skills."
With inputs from agencies
Woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL!!!! What a debut! https://t.co/KMR7TfnVmL
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) April 19, 2025
Indian batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history on Saturday, becoming the youngest-ever player to appear in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at just 14 years old. The Rajasthan Royals brought him in as an impact substitute during their match against the Lucknow Super Giants.
The left-handed batter had been picked up by Rajasthan for $130,500 in the November auction—when he was still only 13 years old—securing him a place in the lucrative T20 tournament.
At 14 years and 23 days, Suryavanshi shattered the previous record for the IPL’s youngest debutant, surpassing Prayas Ray Barman, who was 16 years and 157 days when he debuted for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019.
He was drafted in as an impact player at Rajasthan’s home ground in Jaipur, after skipper Sanju Samson was ruled out with an injury. Suryavanshi then walked out to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, replacing medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma as the team chased a target of 181.
The teenager made an immediate impression, smacking his very first ball for six—a flat-batted shot over the extra-cover boundary off pacer Shardul Thakur.
Nicknamed "Boss Baby" by TV commentators—a nod to the animated film—the baby-faced Suryavanshi scored 34 runs before being stumped off South African spinner Aiden Markram. His 20-ball knock included two fours and three sixes, and he shared an 85-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Jaiswal, a Test player for India with 19 caps.
Hailing from Bihar, one of India’s poorest states, Suryavanshi’s background has drawn attention. His father is a farmer and part-time journalist, according to Indian media reports.
An explosive batter, he first came into the spotlight after scoring a century in just 58 balls during an Under-19 Test against Australia—the second-fastest youth Test ton after Moeen Ali’s 56-ball hundred for England in 2005.
Suryavanshi made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar at just 12 years old, in January last year.
Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid, who was impressed with the youngster during a net session ahead of the auction, later said Suryavanshi has "some really good skills."
With inputs from agencies
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