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IPL 2025: Sanju Samson Reveals Why Rajasthan Royals Roped In 13-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Rajgeeta Yadav

Sanju Samson speaks highly about Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @RockstarMK11/X and @CricketNDTV/X]Sanju Samson speaks highly about Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @RockstarMK11/X and @CricketNDTV/X]

13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi quickly made headlines when Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed him for splurge Rs 1.1 crore in the IPL 2025 mega acution. Even though he is still a young, unproven talent, the RR team saw great potential in him. In a recent interview with AB de Villiers on YouTube, RR captain Sanju Samson explained why they decided to invest in the teenager.

Sanju shared that the RR management was impressed by Vaibhav’s performance against Australia in an Under-19 Test match. The young batter scored a rapid century in just 58 balls, which caught the eye of the team’s decision-makers. 

"I have seen his highlights. All of the people in the Rajasthan decision-making group saw him bat at the U19 Test match vs Australia in Chennai, where he scored a hundred of 60-70 balls. The shots that he played there, it felt like, that's something special and we felt like we have to have those kind of individuals in the side and see where they go," Sanju Samson said.

Vaibhav's knock included 14 boundaries and 4 sixes before he was run out after scoring 104 runs in 62 balls. His remarkable innings was only behind England’s Moeen Ali for the fastest hundred by a player in the Under-19 Test.

Sanju Samson Talks About RR's History

Sanju also spoke highly of RR's history of spotting young talent. He mentioned players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel, who have all been nurtured into top players by the franchise. 

"But Rajasthan Royals have a history of doing this. They find out talents and make them champions. For example, there is a Yashasvi Jaiswal who came to RR as a youngster and now is a rockstar of the Indian team. There is Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel - they all fall under that line. I think RR loves that kind of thing - yes, we want to win the IPL, but we also want to make sure that we are giving enough champions to Indian cricket. It will be exciting to meet him," he further added.

Vaibhav has already made a name for himself in domestic cricket. He became the youngest Indian to play in the Ranji Trophy last season and recently broke another record by becoming the youngest player to debut in List-A cricket at just 13 years and 269 days. He also played in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2024, where he scored two half-centuries, though India lost in the final.