Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Sets Sights on IPL Glory for Rajasthan Royals
Emerging cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has declared his primary objective for the upcoming Indian Premier League season: to secure the coveted IPL trophy for the Rajasthan Royals franchise. The teenage batting prodigy, who recently played a pivotal role in India's U-19 World Cup triumph, expressed his ambitions during an interview with broadcaster Star Sports at the BCCI Naman Awards in New Delhi.
From World Cup Hero to IPL Aspirations
Sooryavanshi, who made headlines in IPL 2025 by becoming the tournament's youngest centurion, further cemented his reputation earlier this year with a spectacular 80-ball 175-run innings in the U-19 World Cup final against England. This explosive performance propelled India to a record-extending sixth title in Harare, showcasing his ability to deliver under pressure on the global stage.
"The goal this IPL season is to win the trophy for the team, as it is a very important thing," Sooryavanshi emphasized. "I want to do well, and my performance will help the whole team. This is my goal -- to contribute to RR's wins and win the trophy for the franchise."
A Journey of Rapid Rise and Development
The youngster from Bihar holds the distinction of being the youngest player ever to sign an IPL contract, with Rajasthan Royals acquiring him at the age of 13 in 2024 for Rs 1.1 crore. Reflecting on his early days, Sooryavanshi recalled how the RR scouting team had been monitoring his progress closely during domestic and Under-19 matches.
"When I made my domestic debut, RR had been keeping an eye on me during my domestic and Under-19 games. Their scouting team had been keeping an eye on me for a long time," he shared. "I felt that I could go to RR because my trial with them had gone very well. I am happy to be with RR, as I have improved a lot too in my life while playing for them."
Learning from Legends and Teammates
Sooryavanshi highlighted the invaluable learning experiences gained from working with cricket legend Rahul Dravid and other senior players within the Rajasthan Royals setup. "For any youngster, the first IPL camp is always interesting and it was the same for me too," he noted. "Rahul (Dravid) sir was there at that time, so I got to learn a lot from him. There were a lot of senior players in the team, and I had a good learning experience from them during the first camp as well as the first IPL."
At the BCCI Naman Awards, where he reunited with his World Cup-winning teammates, Sooryavanshi expressed his delight at the recognition. "(It) feels really nice. Won a trophy as well for India at the World Cup. Because of this award ceremony, feeling nice to meet my teammates and coaches again here," the teen sensation remarked.
As the new IPL season approaches, all eyes will be on this young talent to see if he can translate his international success into domestic glory for the Rajasthan Royals.
