Meet Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the teenage left-handed batting sensation from Bihar, youngest IPL 2025 Rajasthan Royals star and record-breaking Vijay Hazare centurion. Indian cricket has a long history of teenage sensations, but very few have created as much buzz as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Bihar. A gifted left‑handed batter with a mature temperament, he has broken age‑related records in domestic cricket and entered the IPL as one of its youngest ever players.
Early Life and Background of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was born on 27 March 2011. He hails from Tajpur, a village in the Samastipur district of Bihar, India. Bihar is considered as a region that has historically produced fewer international‑level cricketers compared with traditional powerhouses like Mumbai or Delhi. His journey began in the small town. The environment of Samastipur, where his father noticed his early fascination with bat and ball and encouraged structured training from a very young age.
By the age of four, Vaibhav was already playing with older kids. Understanding the childs hobby his family decided to enroll him in a proper cricket academy to refine his raw talent. Growing up in a state with limited cricketing infrastructure, he learned to make the most of the facilities available. His hard learning attitude helped shape his resilient and determined mindset.
Family sacrifices and unseen struggles
Vaibhav’s rise from Samastipur to the IPL has been built on extraordinary sacrifices by his parents, who quietly shouldered the financial and emotional burden of his dream. His father, Sanjiv, even sold a portion of the family’s farmland and eventually left his job so he could fully focus on taking Vaibhav to coaching sessions, trials, and matches across cities, while Vaibhav’s elder brother stepped in to manage the remaining work at home.
In one emotional interview, Vaibhav revealed that his mother often slept barely three hours a night so she could manage household chores and still prepare his meals and kit before early‑morning practice. Despite the financial strain and uncertainty, his parents refused to compromise on his training, ensuring he could face up to 600 balls a day in the nets—sometimes in extreme summer heat—so that match situations would feel easier in comparison.
The journey was not without criticism and doubt from outside. As his records and early success drew attention, some voices questioned his age and even accused the family of dishonesty, forcing his father to publicly defend his integrity and paperwork while shielding his teenage son from the noise. Vaibhav has often said that every run he scores is a way of repaying the faith of his parents and coaches, and that remembering their struggles helps him stay calm under pressure, whether it is a domestic knockout game or a high‑pressure IPL chase.
Rise Through Age-Group and Domestic Cricket
Vaibhav’s performances at the junior level quickly set him apart from his peers in state‑level tournaments. Strong outings in age‑group competitions such as the Vinoo Mankad Trophy attracted the attention of Bihar selectors and paved the way for his rapid promotion to senior teams.
In January 2024, he made his first‑class debut for Bihar against Mumbai at just 12 years and 284 days old, placing him among the youngest players ever to appear in the Ranji Trophy. This debut also made him one of the youngest Indian first‑class players of the modern era, underlining how highly he was rated at the domestic level.
Record-Breaking Batting Feats of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav’s early domestic career has not just been about precocious selection; it has been backed by standout performances. His elegant left‑handed batting, combined with an ability to score quickly, has already resulted in eye‑catching innings in List A and one‑day competitions.
On 23 December 2025, he grabbed headlines by smashing a 36‑ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the age of 14 years and 272 days. This blistering hundred made him the youngest player to score a century in men’s one‑day domestic cricket, instantly propelling him into national conversation as a generational batting talent.
IPL Journey with Rajasthan Royals
Vaibhav’s rapid rise reached another milestone when he was picked by the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 auction, becoming the youngest player at that auction. Joining a franchise known for backing young talent provided him an ideal environment to learn from established international stars and top‑class coaching staff.
As a left‑handed top‑order batter, he brings a versatile stroke‑play range—combining classical drives with modern power‑hitting—to the Royals’ setup. Even in his early IPL appearances, his calm body language and maturity at the crease have drawn comparisons with some of India’s finest young batters of the past decade.
Playing Style and Strengths of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav is primarily a left‑handed top‑order batter whose game is built on timing, balance, and reading length early. His cover drive and shots through the off‑side stand out, but he has also shown an ability to play innovative strokes in the shorter formats, such as ramps and pick‑up shots behind square.
What makes him especially impressive for his age is his temperament under pressure. He tends to build innings thoughtfully—rotating strike early, then accelerating once set—which is a rare quality in such a young cricketer accustomed to the limelight.
Impact on Bihar Cricket and Inspiration for Youth
Bihar’s presence on the Indian cricket map has often been overshadowed by more established states, and Vaibhav’s rise has brought much‑needed attention to the region. His success story is encouraging local administrators, academies, and coaches to invest more seriously in structured pathways for young players.
For aspiring cricketers across tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, his journey shows that early identification, dedicated coaching, and family support can overcome infrastructural challenges. Vaibhav has quickly become a role model for children who want to dream big from smaller cricketing centers.
Future Prospects and Expectations
Given his age and current trajectory, Vaibhav is widely seen as a long‑term prospect for higher honors in Indian cricket. Consistent performance in domestic tournaments and the IPL could put him firmly on the radar of national selectors in the coming years.
However, managing workload, physical development, and expectations will be crucial in the next phase of his career. If guided carefully, Vaibhav has the potential to evolve from a teenage sensation into a sustained, high‑impact batter across all formats for club, state, and possibly the national team.
