Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals’ 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “fantastic attraction” following an explosive debut season in the IPL 2025.
Youngest player in IPL history delivers historic season
Sooryavanshi made headlines by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the IPL, debuting for the Royals against Lucknow Super Giants at just 14 years and 23 days old. He followed that up with a record-breaking performance, scoring a 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans — the fastest by an Indian and second-fastest overall in IPL history.
In seven matches, the teenage star accumulated 252 runs at a blistering strike rate of 206.56 and an average of 36. His final outing of the season, a composed 57 off 33 balls against Chennai Super Kings, showcased maturity beyond his years.
Steve Waugh: “I couldn’t believe how easily he hit sixes”
Speaking during a media interaction for the upcoming Australian Summer of Cricket 2025-26, Waugh said:
“I watched that century and I just couldn’t believe how well he struck the ball, how easy he was hitting sixes, and how relaxed he was. At 14, he has no concept of pressure… just complete freedom. That was great to watch. The challenge now will be to keep it under control.”
IPL breakthrough leads to India U19 call-up
Following his IPL heroics, Sooryavanshi has earned a spot in India’s U19 squad for the upcoming tour of England. The team will play a warm-up match, five Youth ODIs, and two multi-day games as part of their development program.
Despite the time difference, Waugh admitted he made a rare exception to watch the teenager play:
“I don’t watch a lot of IPL games because of the time difference. But when someone like him comes along, you make time to watch.”
From pre-auction trials to IPL stardom
Sooryavanshi was first spotted during Rajasthan Royals’ pre-auction trials in 2024, impressing scouts with his raw power and fearless approach. At just 13, he became the youngest player ever to receive an IPL contract, signed during the 2025 mega auction as a long-term investment by the franchise.
His rapid rise has sparked excitement across the cricketing world, with many already projecting him as one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket’s future.
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