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A 13-year-old cricketer has been picked by the Rajasthan Royals to become the youngest-ever player to earn a deal in the IPL auction.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is 13 years and 243 days at the time of landing his contract, is a left-hand top-order batter for Bihar and attracted a bidding war between the Royals and Delhi Capitals.
The Royals, who won out with a final bid of INR 1.10 crore (£103,552), will hope his talent translates upwards after witnessing him shine for India Under-19s.
Suryavanshi joins Jofra Archer with the Royals, after the England star was acquired for INR 12.5 crore (£1.2m).
Suryavanshi scored a century against Australia Under-19 from just 58 balls after opening the batting during a four-day game in Chennai in September.
That innings confirmed Suryavanshi as the youngest player – at 13 years and 187 days – to score a century in youth cricket, surpassing the previous record held by Bangladesh’s current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto – 14 years and 241 days.
“I had made my debut for India in the Under-19 ODI last year, so there was no such pressure,” he told Cricinfo. “I just had in mind how much difference there would be between white and red ball cricket and I adapted myself to it immediately. Australian bowlers were attacking me with short balls, so I also replied to them with aggressive cricket in the same style.”
Suryavanshi also has a triple-century to his name, reports Cricinfo, finishing unbeaten on 332 after featuring in the Randhir Verma Under-19 ODI tournament in Bihar.
The teenager is thought to idolise West Indies legend Brian Lara and has received guidance from former India opener Wasim Jaffer about developing his game.
