Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Indian 13-year-old who made history, ‘came to Earth to play cricket’
The left-handed batter and spinner will be youngest-ever player in Indian Premier League, after fetching US$130k in the IPL’s mega auction
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a shy, cricket-mad boy aged just 13 will become the youngest player in Indian Premier League history after signing for the Rajasthan Royals.
The left-handed batter and spinner, who could become the sport’s latest Twenty20 batting sensation, comes from India’s poorest state, Bihar, and his father is a farmer and part-time journalist, according to Indian media.
Rajasthan think so highly of Suryavanshi that they paid US$130,000 (HK$1 million) in the IPL’s mega auction for his services – three times higher than his base price.
Now he finds himself among the cricketing elite in the world’s most popular and lucrative T20 tournament, which begins on March 14.
Rajasthan coach Rahul Dravid said he was impressed by the talent of Suryavanshi, who had undergone a trial with the team.
“I think he has got some really good skills,” former India coach Dravid said. “We thought it might be a good environment for him to grow.”
