Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs Sachin Tendulkar: ‘He’s special, but don’t rush him,’ says former India selector

Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has emerged as cricket's newest sensation after becoming the youngest debutant in Indian Premier League history following his debut for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on April 19, 2025.

The young batter, who was purchased by RR for ₹1.10 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, made an immediate impact by scoring 34 runs off 20 balls in his first match and later became the youngest player to score an IPL century at 14 years and 32 days. Suryavanshi's rise to prominence began when he got his opportunity after RR captain Sanju Samson's injury. His debut innings included a first-ball six, showcasing his aggressive batting style.

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On April 28, he achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring 101 runs off just 38 balls against Gujarat Titans. His century came in 35 deliveries, making it the second-fastest in IPL history behind Chris Gayle's 30-ball hundred and the fastest by an Indian player. Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, Suryavanshi started his cricket journey at the age of four under his father's guidance. He joined a cricket academy at nine years old and first gained attention when he represented Bihar's U-19 squad in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy as a 12-year-old.

His recent performances include a notable 190-run knock off 90 balls in India U-19's preparatory match before their England tour. In the 2024 ACC U-19 Asia Cup, he scored 76 off 46 balls against UAE and 67 off 36 deliveries in the semi-finals against Sri Lanka. The young cricketer's performances have drawn comparisons to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut for India at 16 years old against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989.

Former India spinner and BCCI selector Venkatapathy Raju has advised patience regarding Suryavanshi's potential India senior team debut. "Yes, yes, he will take a lot of time. He has to be one of those guys who needs to well in U-19 World Cups. He has to perform quite a bit in domestic cricket. Four-day games. And we can give time. See, talent-wise, we've already seen him, what he can do with a white ball, right?" Raju said. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Raju also addressed the comparisons with Tendulkar, emphasizing the importance of consistency and experience in longer format games. "It depends on the consistency, right? We're a firm believer. We might talk about somebody like Sachin, right? First, Ranji Trophy debut, he got 100. Duleep Trophy, he got 100. Rest of India, he got 100, right? All three-day games. All four-day games. All five-day games. So, like that, I think when you know the talent, we should give him enough time to go and play, do well, and you feel that he's really good enough and he can perform, why not? We can still bring him in," he said. Suryavanshi is currently with the India U-19 team in England, continuing his development in international cricket. His rapid rise through domestic cricket ranks and impressive performances in the IPL have established him as one of cricket's most promising young talents.