When Google CEO Sundar Pichai wakes up early to watch cricket, you know something extraordinary has happened. And this time, it wasn’t Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma lighting up the screen — it was a 14-year-old eighth grader named Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
On Saturday in Jaipur, this kid — yes, a kid — opened the innings for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and launched the very first ball he faced for a six. Let that sink in.
Debuting on the biggest T20 stage in the world, and he responds with audacity and swag that even seasoned pros would hesitate to show. That’s not just talent. That’s fearlessness.
Pichai was blown away, like most of us.
“Woke up to watch an 8th grader play in the IPL!!!! What a debut!” — his post on X summed it up.
But let’s not reduce this to a one-shot wonder moment. Vaibhav’s 34 off 20 balls — including three sixes and two boundaries — wasn’t just fireworks; it was controlled aggression, sharp timing, and big-match temperament. At 14 years and 23 days old, he became the youngest player in IPL history, and frankly, he didn’t look out of place at all.
Let’s talk numbers. Bought for $130,500 (~₹1.08 crore) in the auction while still 13, Vaibhav wasn’t just a wild card pick — Rajasthan Royals clearly saw something special. And they were right.
His journey is nothing short of incredible. From Bihar to the Ranji Trophy at 12, then straight into the India U-19 squad, where he smashed a 58-ball century against Australia — the second-fastest hundred in youth Tests after Moeen Ali. This isn’t luck. This is a prodigy in fast-forward.
And yet, IPL is a whole different beast. It’s ruthless, high-pressure, and full of elite talent. The fact that Vaibhav made such a strong debut, even though his team lost, speaks volumes. He didn’t just survive — he thrived.
He is the real deal. Not just some social media hype or age-based novelty. He’s got the game, the temperament, and now, the world’s attention — including Sundar Pichai’s.
Sure, the road ahead is long, and we’ve seen early bloomers fade before. But from what we’ve seen so far, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is not here to participate — he’s here to take over.