Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a Royal touch to the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 opener at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Visakhapatnam, joining a host of Indian sporting legends on National Sports Day.
At just 14, Vaibhav is already one of India’s brightest young cricket talents, and on August 29, he made his presence felt beyond the cricket pitch — stepping onto the kabaddi mat as one of the special guests for the launch of Pro Kabaddi 2025.
Vaibhav joins Indian sports icons at PKL 12 launch
The young prodigy shared the stage with a celebrated group of Indian athletes, including badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, hockey great Dhanraj Pillay, Paralympic medallist Yogesh Kathuniya, rising sprint star Jyothi Yarraji, and kabaddi superstar Pardeep Narwal.
Never content to simply watch from the sidelines, Vaibhav took to the mat himself — trying out a few kabaddi moves, participating in fun cricket sessions, and interacting with kabaddi players in an unforgettable cross-sport celebration.
“I have been playing kabaddi since I was around five or six years old, so it felt really good returning to the mat and to watch a match live for the first time,” said Vaibhav.
He also stayed on to enjoy the opening clash between Telugu Titans and Tamil Thalaivas — his first live kabaddi match experience.
A breakout year for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav’s meteoric rise began with a six off the first ball he faced in the Indian Premier League and has since included a record-breaking 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, the Super Striker of the Season award, and the fastest hundred in Youth ODIs.
On National Sports Day, the prodigy reflected on the broader value of sport:
“Be it kabaddi, cricket, badminton or any other sport, I firmly believe that hard work is the key to achieving one’s dreams and aspirations. While I have enjoyed playing kabaddi and table tennis, cricket has always been my first love.”
He added, “Playing teaches you teamwork, discipline, and resilience. I feel lucky to be part of Rajasthan Royals, learning and chasing my dreams — and I hope more kids like me start playing and believing in themselves.”
What’s next for Vaibhav?
Vaibhav is expected to be back in action soon, joining the India U19 squad for their upcoming tour of Australia starting September 21.
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When cricket’s next-gen met the Warriorz 🔥
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played cricket and witnessed the Pangebaazi up close ahead of the PKL12 Grand Opening 👏
— @ProKabaddi
