• Home
  • Player Stories
  • From Bihar To Ipl Stardom When Vvs Laxman Led Rahul Dravid To Vaibhav Suryavanshi

From Bihar To IPL Stardom: When VVS Laxman Led Rahul Dravid To Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Akshita Patel

VVS Laxman's connection in Vaibhav Suryavanshi's IPL rise [Source: @Kushacritic, @imSubbuNMurthy/X.com]VVS Laxman's connection in Vaibhav Suryavanshi's IPL rise [Source: @Kushacritic, @imSubbuNMurthy/X.com]

On April 28, 2025, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest Indian to score a century in the IPL with a powerful 101 off just 38 balls. But Vaibhav’s journey started much earlier, with VVS Laxman playing a big role.

Suryavanshi slammed a powerful knock of 101 off just 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, stunning everyone. He hit 7 fours and 11 massive sixes, and his opening partnership of 166 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal helped the Royals chase down 210 in just 15.5 overs.

In just the third inning of his debut IPL season, Vaibhav left the cricketing world in shock. However, the 14-year-old's journey is also an interesting tale.

VVS Laxman First Introduced Vaibhav Suryavanshi To Rahul Dravid

Coming from Bihar, a state with limited cricket support, Vaibhav Suryavanshi had to work hard for every opportunity. His childhood coach, Manoj Ojha, recalls how Vaibhav cried after getting run out for 36 in an U19 Challenger game. 

That’s when VVS Laxman noticed him. Instead of focusing only on runs, Laxman saw the hunger and passion in Vaibhav’s eyes. Laxman didn’t stop there. He backed Vaibhav for an U19 series and later recommended him to Rahul Dravid, who was working with the Royals. 

Dravid, meanwhile, took him under his wing and signed the teenager during the IPL 2025 mega auction. RR spent INR 1.1 crore on this young talent, and he didn’t disappoint.

On April 19, he made his IPL debut and hit a six off his very first ball. A week later, he was rewriting records.

Rahul Dravid Proud After Suryavanshi’s Historic Ton

Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashed an extraordinary 101 off just 38 balls, becoming the youngest-ever player to hit a century in the IPL. But it wasn’t just the scoreboard lighting up; so was the dugout. 

When Vaibhav launched Rashid Khan for a massive six to bring up his hundred, RR head coach Rahul Dravid, who was recovering from an injury and had been seated in a wheelchair, suddenly jumped up in sheer joy. In that split second, the emotion of the moment overtook everything else.