At 14 years and 23 days, Vaibhav Suryavanshi on Saturday became the youngest player in the history of the Indian Premier League to make his debut for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The teenager has been named in the subs for the hosts and came to bat in the chase.
The year 2024 has been life-changing for the India U-19 opener. In October, Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name in the history books as he became the youngest player to score an international century. Vaibhav scored 104 off 62 balls in India Under-19’s Youth Test against Australia in Chennai.
A month later, Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to be signed in IPL history as he ignited a bidding war between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, with the former ultimately securing him for a handsome sum of Rs 1.1 crore.
List of youngest IPL debutants
| No | Player Name | Age (On April 19) | Team Name |
| 1 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | 14 years, 23 days | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2 | P Ray Barman | 16 years, 257 days | Royal Challnegers Bengaluru |
| 3 | Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 1 7 years, 11 days | Punjab Kings |
| 4 | Riyan Parag | 17 years, 152days | Rajasthan Royals |
| 5 | Pradeep Sangwan | 17 years 179 days | Punjab Kings |
Picking up Suryavanshi goes perfectly with the way the Royals have traditionally gone about their business: of backing young stars to come good, like they did with Ravindra Jadeja, handing him his IPL debut at the age of 19 under Shane Warne in IPL 2008, or giving Sanju Samson an IPL debut under Rahul Dravid in 2013 at the age of 18.
Vaibhav’s mentor VVS Laxman currently serving as head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), has personally monitored his growth for the past two years.
The Indian Express understands that it was Laxman who recommended Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s name to Rajasthan Royals’ head coach Rahul Dravid.