Vaibhav Suryavanshi was barely eight years old when the whispers of age fraud began. He was dismissed by many experts even before making his IPL debut, with people scoffing, “What’s a kid going to do among seasoned cricketing giants?”
But this so-called “kid” has been silencing his critics ever since—one shot at a time. The headline is famous: 13 years old and already an IPL crorepati. But the journey that got him there? That reads like a page from a cricketing comic book.
You might wonder, “How much cricket could he have played at such a young age?” But every time he has stepped onto the field, he’s made it count. At just 8, Vaibhav cracked the U-16 district trials. Not U-12, not U-14—U-16. Then came his breakout in the 2023 Cooch Behar Trophy, where he scored a blistering 151 for Bihar against Jharkhand at a strike rate of nearly 118. That wasn’t just maturity—it was intent. It was audacity.
While most kids are wrestling with math homework at 12, Vaibhav was facing first-class bowlers and becoming the fourth youngest player ever to play Ranji cricket.
Of course, when a young player punches so far above his weight, doubts are inevitable. People began to suspect age fraud again—some even claimed he was born in 2011. But Vaibhav underwent a BCCI bone test when he was eight and a half years old, and the results put every rumor to rest. No fraud, no tweaking—just pure, unfiltered talent.
Then, just before the IPL auction, came his boldest statement yet. Selected for India’s Under-19 team at the age of 13, Vaibhav smashed a century on debut—not just any century, but the fastest ever by an Indian in Under-19 Tests. And yes, it was against Australia—not your average school team.
Rajasthan Royals didn’t waste time—they signed him up. In the Under-19 Asia Cup, he scored 176 runs in just 5 innings. Then came the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he shared the field with seasoned pros for Bihar and proved once again: age is just a number when the talent speaks this loud.
From being doubted for his age to becoming the youngest player to score a T20 hundred, Vaibhav’s journey is a masterclass in belief, resilience, and raw, jaw-dropping skill.
And for those still asking, “How can someone so young do all this?” The answer is simple: “Talent doesn’t come with a size tag.”
