Rajasthan Royals team poses for a group picture back in May 24, 2024. Picture: R Satish BABU, AFP
Lunga Biyela
Indian cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history on Monday when he became the youngest ever player ever bought during an Indian Premier League auction.
Suryavanshi, who will only turn 14 next March, went to Rajasthan Royals for $130,500 (R2.4 million).
The cricket sensation, who made his first class debut at just the age of 12, was so in demand that a two-way battle for his signature between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals started as soon as he came onto the board.
Delhi eventually backed out, allowing Rajasthan to win the auction.
Despite being only 12 years and 284 days when he made his first class debut, Suryavanshi still falls short of the record for the youngest player at that level.
The record belongs to Alimuddin, who was 12 years and 73 days old when he played his first game in the 1942/43 season. He went on to play 25 Tests for Pakistan, and died in 2012 at the age of 81.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, all of 13 years old, entering the IPL! 💗😂 pic.twitter.com/ffkH73LUeG
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 25, 2024
Earlier bids in the IPL auction
On Sunday, Kagiso Rabada was the most expensive South African picked up in the bid when Gujarat Titans picked him up for just under R22 million.
The Lucknow Super Giants snapped up Proteas left-hander David Miller for R16 million after the Gujarat Titans decided not to retain the big-hitting South African.
Miller will have his Proteas white-ball captain Aiden Markram with him at the Super Giants after the right-hander was bought for R4 million after leading the Sunrisers last season.
Proteas wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock, who last played for his country at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies, was bought for a handsome R7.7 million by the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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