13-Year-Old Indian Cricketer Secures $130,500 IPL Contract

A 13-year-old has become the youngest player to secure a deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recognized as the world’s richest cricket tournament. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, from the eastern state of Bihar, was acquired by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for 11 million rupees ($130,500; £103,789) during the recently-concluded auctions in Saudi Arabia. The left-handed batter has represented his state in national championships, such as the Ranji and Mushtaq Ali trophies, and has also played for India in Under-19 internationals. Delhi Capitals and RR both initiated bids for him starting from 3 million rupees, but RR, with whom he had trained previously, managed to seal the deal. While Indian cricket was traditionally dominated by urban centers such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, the IPL has succeeded in attracting a wider pool of cricketers from India’s far-off villages and small towns. Suryavanshi, currently in Dubai to play the India Under-19 Asia Cup, made his Ranji debut at the age of 12 in January, playing for Bihar against Mumbai. In his five Ranji matches, his highest score has been 41. However, a highlight of his career was his 58-ball century as an opener in an Under-19 unofficial Test against Australia a few weeks ago, which also established him as the youngest to score a century in youth cricket. He also achieved an unbeaten 332 in an Under-19 tournament in Bihar. RR identified raw potential in the youngster after he impressed their coaching staff during a training session. “He’s an incredible talent and, of course, you got to have the confidence so he can step up to the IPL level,” the team’s CEO Jake Lush McCrum told ESPN Cricinfo after the auction ended. He added that Suryavanshi’s development would require work, but “he is a hell of a talent and we’re really excited to have him as part of the franchise.” Although Indian laws prohibit child labor for individuals under 14, experts note that no such guidelines exist for sports, where players below 14 regularly compete in national and international events. Nevertheless, to participate in an international match organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Suryavanshi may need to wait until he is 15, as this is the minimum age limit set by cricket’s governing body. The news of Suryavanshi’s auction and the value of his contract has brought significant joy to his family, who had previously sold their land to finance his cricketing dreams. His father, Sanjiv Suryavanshi, told PTI news agency that “he is not just my son now but is Bihar’s son.” Mr. Suryavanshi, a farmer from Bihar who had migrated to Mumbai for employment, worked as a bouncer in a nightclub and at a public toilet, he informed the Indian Express newspaper. His primary concern now is to ensure his son remains grounded. He stated, “I will talk to him and make sure that this IPL auction doesn’t go to his head. He still has a long way to go.”