Manchester, July 5: Two-and-a-half years. That is all it took Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to go from making his first-class debut for Bihar to wearing the India jersey.
In between came an extraordinary collection of records, breathtaking centuries, an IPL contract at 13, a sensational 35-ball hundred, domestic cricket domination, Under-19 World Cup glory and, finally, an India call-up.
Walking out to open the batting against England at Old Trafford in Manchester, Sooryavanshi - the boy from Samastipur district of Bihar - became the youngest cricketer to represent India at the international level. He was just 15 years and 99 days old.
The much-awaited debut innings lasted only 10 balls. The left-hander struck two sixes and scored 14 before being stumped
off Will Jacks.
It was not the fairytale innings many had hoped for. But for a cricketer whose journey has been anything but ordinary, the significance of the occasion went far beyond those 10 deliveries.
From Bihar cricket to the IPL, from dominating Under-19 attacks to taking on senior cricketers, Sooryavanshi's rise has unfolded at a pace rarely seen in Indian cricket.
Here is how the teenage prodigy made his way to Team India.
January 2024: A 12-Year-Old Steps Into First-Class Cricket
Long before the IPL sixes and international headlines, Sooryavanshi was a 12-year-old taking his first steps in senior domestic cricket.
The left-handed batter made his first-class debut for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy in January 2024.
He had already represented Bihar at age-group level, including the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, but playing first-class cricket at such a young age immediately put him in the spotlight.
It was the beginning of a remarkable run in which age records would keep falling wherever Sooryavanshi went.
September 2024: A 58-Ball Century Announces His Arrival
The first major glimpse of Sooryavanshi's extraordinary batting ability on the international age-group stage came against Australia Under-19.
Making his Youth Test debut for India Under-19 in Chennai, he smashed a century in just 58 balls.
Sooryavanshi eventually scored 104 before being run out, but by then, he had already made his point.
It was the fastest century by an Indian in Youth Test cricket.
The 13-year-old was no longer simply another promising youngster coming through India's age-group system. He had emerged as one of the most exciting batting talents in the country.
November 2024: Rajasthan Royals Take a Rs 1.10 Crore Gamble
Then came the moment that introduced Sooryavanshi to a much bigger audience. At the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals signed the teenager for Rs 1.10 crore after a bidding battle with Delhi Capitals. He was only 13.
The deal made Sooryavanshi the youngest player ever signed by an IPL franchise and immediately sparked curiosity across the cricketing world.
Could a boy so young really compete against some of the best cricketers on the planet?
A few months later, Sooryavanshi provided the answer.
April 19, 2025: A Six Off His First Ball in IPL Cricket
At 14 years and 23 days, Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants. He was the youngest player in the tournament's history. But if there were any nerves, they were difficult to spot.
Facing his very first delivery in the IPL, Sooryavanshi launched the ball for six. He went on to score 34 from 20 deliveries, offering the first glimpse of the fearless batting style that would soon turn him into one of the biggest stories in world cricket.
Nine days later, everything changed.
April 28, 2025: The Night Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Stunned the Cricketing World
Some innings build reputations. Others change careers. Sooryavanshi's 101 against Gujarat Titans did both. Still only 14, the Rajasthan Royals opener tore into the Gujarat bowling attack and completed his century in just 35 balls.
He eventually scored 101 from 38 deliveries, smashing 11 sixes. It was the fastest IPL century by an Indian and the second-fastest hundred in the tournament's history, behind only Chris Gayle's iconic 30-ball effort.
Sooryavanshi also became the youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket. In the space of 38 deliveries, an exciting teenage prospect had become a global cricketing sensation.
He finished his debut IPL season with 252 runs from seven matches at a staggering strike rate of 206.56.
But the IPL was only the beginning.
2025: The Records Keep Falling
Wherever Sooryavanshi played, records seemed to follow. Representing Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he became the youngest centurion in men's List A cricket.
The left-hander reached his hundred from only 36 balls against Arunachal Pradesh and went on to smash 190 from 84 deliveries.
During the innings, he also broke the record for the fastest 150 in men's List A cricket.
There was more history in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he became the youngest player to score a century in the competition.
By the end of 2025, one thing was becoming increasingly clear.
Sooryavanshi was not merely dominating cricketers of his own age. His attacking game was proving effective across formats and against senior opposition.
2025 U19 Asia Cup: Another Tournament, Another Statement
Despite his growing experience at senior level, Sooryavanshi remained a key figure in India's Under-19 setup. At the 2025 Under-19 Asia Cup, he scored 261 runs from five matches.
The highlight was a breathtaking 171 against the UAE - the highest score by an Indian in the history of the competition. Sooryavanshi smashed 14 sixes during the innings.
By now, the sight of the teenager sending the ball repeatedly over the boundary had become familiar. Yet another challenge was waiting.
November 2025: A 42-Ball 144 for India A
Sooryavanshi's promotion to India A cricket provided another opportunity to test himself against senior opposition. Once again, he responded in spectacular fashion.
Playing against the UAE at the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, the left-hander smashed 144 from just 42 balls. His century came from only 32 deliveries.
If there had still been doubts over whether his explosive batting could translate from age-group cricket to the senior level, Sooryavanshi was quickly erasing them.
December 2025: A National Honour for India's Teenage Prodigy
An extraordinary year ended with recognition away from the cricket field. Sooryavanshi received the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, presented by President Droupadi Murmu.
It was another major milestone in a year during which the teenager had rewritten record books in the IPL, domestic cricket, Under-19 cricket and for India A.
The biggest triumph of his young career, however, was still to come.
February 2026: U19 World Cup Glory
If IPL 2025 introduced Sooryavanshi to the world, the 2026 Under-19 World Cup further strengthened his reputation as a generational batting talent.
The teenager played a starring role in India's title-winning campaign.
And he saved his biggest performance for the final.
Facing England, Sooryavanshi smashed an astonishing 175 from just 80 deliveries, hitting 15 fours and 15 sixes as India lifted their sixth Under-19 World Cup title.
He finished the tournament with 439 runs from seven matches and was named Player of the Tournament.
Sooryavanshi also ended the competition with the highest strike rate and most sixes.
At this point, talk of a senior India call-up was no longer based purely on potential.
It had become a question of when, not if.
IPL 2026: No Second-Season Blues for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Expectations were enormous when Sooryavanshi returned for his second IPL season.
Could he repeat the heroics of 2025? Had bowlers worked him out? Would the pressure of expectations affect a player still in his teens?
Sooryavanshi answered those questions with another impressive campaign for Rajasthan Royals. Instead of fading after his breakthrough season, he continued to establish himself as one of the most exciting young batters in the game.
By the end of IPL 2026, the calls for his inclusion in the Indian team had grown louder. Soon, the selectors came calling.
June 2026: The India Call-Up Finally Arrives
Sooryavanshi received his maiden senior India call-up for the T20I assignments against Ireland and England. At 15, he stood on the verge of breaking one of Indian cricket's longest-standing age records.
Sachin Tendulkar had been India's youngest male international cricketer since making his debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days.
But Sooryavanshi had to wait for his opportunity. He remained on the sidelines for India's two T20Is against Ireland. The wait continued when the first T20I against England was washed out.
Then came July 4.
July 4, 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Creates History for India
At Old Trafford, India captain Shreyas Iyer finally confirmed the news millions of cricket fans had been waiting for. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was making his international debut.
At 15 years and 99 days, the Bihar youngster became the youngest cricketer - male or female - to represent India at the international level.
He surpassed Shafali Verma, who had made her India debut at 15 years and 239 days.
Sooryavanshi also broke Tendulkar's long-standing record as India's youngest male international cricketer. Before the match, he received his maiden India cap from Tilak Varma.
Then, just two-and-a-half years after making his first-class debut for Bihar, Sooryavanshi walked out to open the batting for India.
Two Sixes, 14 Runs and a Glimpse of What Could Follow
There was no big knock on debut from the left-handed batter. No record-breaking innings. No storybook finish. But there was still a glimpse of the fearless approach that had carried Sooryavanshi all the way to the Indian team.
During his 10-ball stay, the left-hander smashed two sixes before being stumped for 14 off Will Jacks. India captain Shreyas Iyer later praised the youngster's temperament and fearless approach.
"I feel he's got that unflinching attitude where he's fearless, and the way he approaches his game, it's just sensational to watch him," Iyer said after the match.
"I wasn't anticipating him to be nervous, honestly speaking, because he's played sensational cricket for the last couple of months and years. And we all know what he's got to offer as an individual. "
For a player who has spent the last two-and-a-half years smashing records and challenging expectations, the debut innings was merely another beginning.
From Bihar to Team India: A Journey Unlike Any Other
Consider the speed of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's rise. In January 2024, he was making his first-class debut for Bihar. Eight months later, he smashed a 58-ball century against Australia Under-19.
By November, Rajasthan Royals had signed him for Rs 1.10 crore.
In April 2025, he became the youngest player in IPL history and, nine days later, smashed a 35-ball century.
Then came domestic records, Under-19 dominance, a 42-ball 144 for India A, a national honour, Under-19 World Cup glory and another IPL campaign.
Finally, on July 4, 2026, the journey reached the biggest stage. At 15 years and 99 days, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walked out wearing the India jersey.
His first international innings lasted only 10 balls. But for a cricketer who has achieved so much before most teenagers have even finished school, this is unlikely to be remembered as the destination.
It could be just the beginning of the most fascinating chapter yet in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's extraordinary story.
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