Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson praised Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the youngest-ever IPL signing at just 13. Samson noted Vaibhav’s impressive six-hitting ability and said he’s ready to “land a few punches.” Suryavanshi joined RR for Rs 1.1 crore in last year’s IPL mega-auction. Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, he made his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024 at 12 years and 284 days. He scored a brilliant 58-ball century for India U19 against Australia in Chennai.
In the 2024-25 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, Vaibhav finished as the seventh-highest run-scorer, amassing 176 runs from five matches, with a highest score of 76*.
Speaking on JioHotstar program, Samson shared that today’s young players are full of confidence and clearly understand the brand of Indian cricket that needs to be played.
“For me, instead of offering advice right away, I prefer to observe first—how a young player approaches his game, what he enjoys, and the kind of support he requires from me. Once I understand that, I tailor my guidance accordingly. Vaibhav is very confident; at the academy, he was hitting sixes out of the park. People were already talking about his power-hitting ability. What more can you ask for? It’s all about recognizing his strengths, supporting him, and being there like an older brother,” he shared.
Sanju also mentioned that Vaibhav, who made his T20 debut for Bihar during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last year, appears ready to make an impact.
“The focus should be on keeping him in top condition and providing a relaxed environment, which is something the Rajasthan Royals (RR) are known for. We make sure to create a positive vibe in the dressing room and stand by our players. Who knows he could be representing India in a couple of years. I truly believe he’s ready for the IPL. He seems capable of making a significant impact. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds,” he concluded.
RR will begin their IPL 2025 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the finalists of the previous season, on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.