Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has made history by becoming the youngest player to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) – and promptly hit the first ball he faced for a six.
Opening the batting Suryavanshi, who only turned 14 last month, came on as an impact substitute for Rajasthan Royals and scored 34 runs off 20 balls, announcing himself on the big stage by hitting the first ball over extra cover for a maximum.
Suryavanshi hit three sixes and two fours during his 20-ball cameo before he was stumped by Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant.
The teenager was replacing Rajasthan’s injured skipper Sanju Samson, who suffered an injury to his side against Delhi Capitals in their previous game.
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Suryavanshi became the youngest player bought in an IPL auction when he was signed by Rajasthan Royals for £105,000.
His selection came just weeks after he smashed a 58-ball hundred for India U19s against Australia U19s in an unofficial test in Chennai.
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Suryavanshi, who was born in 2011, holds another record as the first IPL cricketer born after the tournament began in 2008.
The previous youngest IPL debutant was Prayas Rai Burman, who featured in 2019 aged 16 and 154 days for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Mujeeb ur Rahman is the youngest international cricketer in the IPL, debuting at 17 in 2018 for Punjab Kings.
