NEW DELHI, India — A talented 13-year-old cricket player from Bihar, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, has generated excitement by being acquired by the Rajasthan Royals for a substantial $130,000 during the recent Indian Premier League mega auction.

Suryavanshi made headlines last month when he scored a remarkable century against the Australian Under-19 team, achieving 104 runs off just 58 deliveries. This remarkable feat saw him break the record previously held by Najmul Hasan Shanto, the current captain of Bangladesh’s Test team, who scored a century at the age of 14 years and 241 days. Suryavanshi, at 13 years and 187 days, is now the youngest to accomplish this milestone in youth cricket.

The Delhi Capitals also expressed keen interest in Suryavanshi, starting their bidding at his base price of $35,500, but eventually, the Rajasthan Royals secured his signing. Rajasthan’s CEO, Jake Lush McCrum, spoke highly of Suryavanshi after the auction held in Saudi Arabia. He mentioned that the young player had previously impressed the coaching staff at their high-performance center in Nagpur during trials, indicating that they recognize his exceptional talent. McCrum emphasized the potential for Suryavanshi to thrive in the IPL with proper guidance and confidence.

Describing him as a “hell of a talent,” McCrum looks forward to nurturing Suryavanshi ahead of the IPL, which commences on March 14. The coaching staff, which includes former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, is set to provide valuable support as the young cricketer prepares for this new level of competition.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi looks up to the legendary West Indian cricketer Brian Lara and has been fortunate to receive guidance from former Indian player Wasim Jaffer, whom he met during an Under-19 tournament in Bangladesh last year. His father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, has been instrumental as his coach, supporting him from a young age when Vaibhav first expressed a passion for cricket.

Proudly, Sanjiv stated, “He is not just my son, but the son of all of Bihar.” He underscored the dedication and hard work that his son has shown in pursuing his cricketing dreams. The upcoming months hold great promise as Suryavanshi prepares to make his mark in the highly competitive world of T20 cricket.