IPL 2025: Sanju Samson reveals why Rajasthan Royals paid big bucks for Vaibhav Suryavanshi

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Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson praised 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi ahead of the IPL 2025 season.

Speaking on AB de Villiers' YouTube channel, Samson shared how the team spotted Vaibhav after watching him bat against Australia in an Under-19 Test match.

Rajasthan Royals bought the young batter for Rs 1.10 crore during the 2025 IPL mega auction. Vaibhav made headlines in October when he smashed the fastest century by an Indian in Under-19 Tests. Playing at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he scored 104 runs off just 62 balls, including 14 boundaries and 4 sixes. His 58-ball century was the second-fastest in Under-19 Test cricket history.

Vaibhav has already created history by becoming the youngest Indian to play List-A cricket and Ranji Trophy. At just 13 years and 269 days, he broke the record held by Ali Akbar, who debuted in List-A cricket at 14 years and 51 days in 1999. Vaibhav also holds the record for being the youngest Indian to play at the Under-19 level.

Sanju Samson highlighted Rajasthan Royals' tradition of nurturing young talent, giving examples of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel. He said the team is not just focused on winning IPL titles but also on grooming players to become stars for Indian cricket. Samson expressed excitement about having Vaibhav in the team, calling him a 'special talent.'

"I have seen his highlights. All of the people in the Rajasthan decision-making group saw him bat at the U19 Test match vs Australia in Chennai, where he scored a hundred of 60-70 balls. The shots that he played there, it felt like, that's something special and we felt like we have to have those kind of individuals in the side and see where they go," Sanju Samson told the ex-South Africa player on the latter's YouTube channel.

"But Rajasthan Royals have a history of doing this. They find out talents and make them champions. For example, there is a Yashasvi Jaiswal who came to RR as a youngster and now is a rockstar of the Indian team. There is Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel - they all fall under that line. I think RR loves that kind of thing - yes, we want to win the IPL, but we also want to make sure that we are giving enough champions to Indian cricket. It will be exciting to meet him," Samson added.

It is to be seen how Suryavanshi lives up to the gigantic expectations in the upcoming season. Although his chances maybe sporadic in the coming edition, but the Bihar-born teenager has the potential to be a mainstay at the Royals in the coming years.