14-year old Vaibhav Suryavanshi kicks off IPL career with first-ball six

At 14 years and 23 days, Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the IPL's youngest debutant when he was brought in as an Impact Player in Rajasthan Royals' (RR) chase of 181 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Jaipur on Saturday. He began his IPL career with a six off his first delivery, bowled by Shardul Thakur.

Suryavanshi, who hails from Samastipur, a city about 100 kilometres north east of Patna, made his first-class debut at the age of 13 in January last year, and was picked for INR 1.1 crore at last November's mega IPL auction. He had attracted the attention of IPL scouts when he made a 58-ball century for India in a youth "Test" against Australia in September last year. Having sat on the RR bench for the first half of IPL 2025, he got his opportunity because of an injury to Sanju Samson.

"Playing IPL at 14 is unimaginable," Ambati Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut before the chase once it became clear that Suryavanshi would be getting a go. "He must be a special cricketer," Mark Boucher said.

"Everybody has been anticipating this day this year right from the auction when he was picked," Rayudu added. "Everybody was quite curious to know who this kid was. The only other guy that the whole of India saw at 16 was Sachin Tendulkar and from then on we know what he has achieved. So everybody is expecting big things from Suryavanshi as well."

Opening the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryavanshi did not hold back. He launched the first ball he faced - a length delivery from India international Thakur - by making room and lofting on the up over the extra-cover boundary.

His fearlessness and intent to keep on attacking became evident when he cleared his front leg and swung at his third ball, hitting another India international, Avesh Khan, down the ground for six. He earned a reprieve off his fifth delivery, when Prince Yadav put down a high catch running back from midwicket.

As LSG brought in spinner Digvesh Rathi in the fourth over after RR had raced to 39 for no loss, Suryavanshi focused on defence. There was a clear plan to hit anything pitched short or full, like the time he climbed into Rathi when he dropped short, or when he launched legspinner Ravi Bishnoi straight down the ground.

Suryavanshi scored 34 off 20 - 26 in boundaries - on IPL debut before Aiden Markram had him stumped when he got one to rip off the surface to beat him in flight. Suryavanshi had overbalanced and lifted is back foot, giving Rishabh Pant the chance to complete the stumping and break the 85-run opening stand that came off 8.4 overs. At that stage, RR were well placed for victory, but a dramatic turn of events in the last three overs sent them crashing to their fourth consecutive defeat.