Vaibhav Sooryavanshi only recently turned 15 but he has already broken some outrageous records in the world of cricket. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, he had become the youngest-ever player to be purchased, being signed by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs 1.1 crore. However, in a stunning revelation, RR’s Director of Cricket Zubin Bharucha shared that he had told the franchise to keep up to Rs 10 crore just for Sooryavanshi. Bharucha revealed that his first impression of Sooryavanshi had left him in awe.
Bharucha recalled Sooryavanshi’s incredible first impression in RR’s trial in Maharashtra’s Talegaon.
“The first ball to a right-hander had jagged back in. So I’m thinking, when this guy comes on strike, the ball will probably move away and beat him outside off,” Bharucha told The Cricket Monthly.
However, Sooryavanshi left Bharucha gobsmacked by smashing it for a maximum over extra cover.
“I was like, ‘What am I seeing?’ I couldn’t even process it,” Bharucha revealed.
Such was the impression that Sooryavanshi had created on Bharucha that the young left-hander was invited for a solo trial after it to be tested by deliveries with a speed of more than 155 kmph. Even there, Sooryavanshi passed with flying colours.
“The first few balls, he left. But even that stood out. The way he was leaving, it felt like there was no pace on the ball. The keeper was standing 30 yards back and he’s just… so comfortably leaving them.
“One of the sidearmers hit the deck hard, and Vaibhav hit it straight over the sightscreen for six. I asked for the ball speed, and it measured 157 kph! That’s not normal. Not even for the best. To do that off your fourth or fifth ball facing that pace – that’s when you know this is something incredibly special,” Bharucha elaborated.
Bharucha revealed that he had told the RR management that he is already twice as good as what Yashasvi Jaiswal was when he had been signed by the Royals.
“I told them, he’s Jaiswal multiplied by two already. You’re looking at something incredible… Can’t believe he has come to our doorstep. Don’t miss this chance,” Bharucha said.
Sooryavanshi smashed 252 runs in just seven matches in his debut IPL season – including the fastest-ever IPL hundred by an Indian – at the age of 14. He has kickstarted IPL 2026 with a bang, slamming the joint third-fastest fifty in tournament history.