Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Wiki: Age, Height, Net Worth, IPL Records & Biography 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is an Indian cricketer from Bihar who has become one of the most talked-about teenagers in world sport. A left-handed top-order batter for the Rajasthan Royals, he holds a string of “youngest ever” records — youngest IPL debutant, youngest IPL centurion, youngest Orange Cap winner — and in 2026 became the youngest person ever named to the TIME 100 Next list. As of October 2026, he is 15 years old.

Early Life

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was born on 27 March 2011 in Tajpur, a village in Bihar’s Samastipur district, into a modest farming family. His father, Sanjeev Sooryavanshi, noticed his son’s natural feel for the game when Vaibhav was only four years old and built a small practice area at home so the boy could train. By most accounts the family made heavy sacrifices for his cricket — reports describe the father selling farmland to fund training and making near-100 km trips to Patna on alternate days so Vaibhav could work with professional coaches from the age of nine.

The investment showed early. Vaibhav played the Vinoo Mankad Trophy for Bihar’s under-19 side at twelve, and in January 2024 he made his first-class debut for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy at 12 years and 284 days — one of the youngest first-class debutants in Indian cricket history. Later that year he smashed a 58-ball century for India Under-19 against Australia Under-19, then the fastest Youth Test hundred by an Indian. Scouts were already circling.

Career

Sooryavanshi’s life changed at the IPL 2025 mega auction, where the Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹1.1 crore after a bidding contest with the Delhi Capitals. At thirteen, he became the youngest player ever handed an IPL contract. Royals director of cricket Zubin Bharucha later revealed to ESPNcricinfo that the franchise had been prepared to go as high as ₹10 crore for the teenager after watching him at trials.

He made his IPL debut on 19 April 2025 against the Lucknow Super Giants at 14 years and 23 days — the youngest debutant in league history — and announced himself with a six off his first ball. Nine days later came the innings that made him a household name: 101 off 38 balls against the Gujarat Titans, reaching his hundred in just 35 deliveries. It was the fastest IPL century by an Indian batter at the time and made him the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket. He finished his maiden season with 252 runs in seven matches at a strike rate above 200.

The 2026 season turned promise into dominance. Playing a full campaign for the Royals, Sooryavanshi piled up 776 runs at a strike rate of 237, winning the Orange Cap and the Emerging Player of the Year award — the youngest winner of both. According to the Indian Express, he cleared the ropes 72 times in 16 games, shattering the single-season sixes record. He added a second IPL hundred during the season and nearly a third, falling for 97 off 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

His rise has not been limited to franchise cricket. At the 2026 Under-19 World Cup he was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 439 runs, including a blistering 175 off 80 balls in the final against England. In June 2026, during a tri-series final in Sri Lanka, he reached fifty in 11 balls — reported as the fastest half-century in List A cricket — and finished unbeaten on 94 off 29. Then came the senior call-up: a T20I debut against England in 2026 at 15 years and 99 days, making him the youngest Indian to play international cricket and breaking a record held by Sachin Tendulkar for nearly 37 years.

October 2026 added two more milestones. First, an Asian Games gold medal as India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s final in Nisshin, Japan — making him the youngest Indian ever to win an Asian Games gold, as reported by Global Indian. Then came global recognition beyond cricket: a place on the TIME 100 Next 2026 list in the ‘Phenom’ category, where TIME described him as “fast becoming one of global sport’s most electrifying figures.” He is the youngest person on the 2026 list and the only Indian athlete featured.

Personal Life

Despite the fame, Sooryavanshi’s personal life remains largely private and age-appropriate. He is reported to still be a school student in Bihar, and his family — particularly his father Sanjeev, the farmer who bankrolled his early training — features in almost every profile of him. His mother’s name has not been made public.

Commercially, his breakthrough has started to pay. In February 2026 he was signed as a brand ambassador by Zydus Wellness for Complan, his first major endorsement, built around his real training story. Following India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph, the Bihar government presented him with a ₹50 lakh cash prize. The fan site CricHeroes estimates his net worth at around ₹3 crore, driven mainly by his ₹1.1 crore annual IPL contract plus match fees and rewards — though no official net worth figure has been published.

Controversy

Sooryavanshi’s officially listed date of birth — 27 March 2011 — has faced public questioning. Bhaskar English reported that in a 2023 interview the young cricketer had mentioned his 14th birthday falling in September 2023, which would make him roughly a year and a half older than his official age. The discrepancy has been widely discussed online, but no authority has disputed his registered date of birth, and all of his records stand on the official figure. It remains an unverified doubt rather than an established fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

He is 15 years old, born on 27 March 2011 in Tajpur, Samastipur, Bihar.

Which IPL team does Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play for and what was his auction price?

He plays for the Rajasthan Royals, who signed him for ₹1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction — the youngest IPL contract ever.

What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fastest century?

His famous 101 off 38 balls against the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, with the hundred coming in 35 balls — the fastest IPL ton by an Indian at the time.

How many runs did he score in IPL 2026?

776 runs at a strike rate of 237, winning the Orange Cap. He also hit a reported record 72 sixes in the season, per the Indian Express.

What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s net worth?

No official figure exists. The fan site CricHeroes estimates it at around ₹3 crore, based on his IPL contract, match fees, endorsements and state rewards.

Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the TIME 100 Next list?

Yes — he was named to TIME 100 Next 2026 in the ‘Phenom’ category, the youngest person on the list and the only Indian athlete featured.

Related: read about fellow TIME 100 Next 2026 athlete Alex Eala and Asian Games 2026 swimming star Zhang Zhanshuo.