Key Points

In what was nothing short of a dream debut, Vaibhav announced his arrival with a six off the very first ball he faced. The young left-hander went on to score a brisk 34 runs off just 20 deliveries, including two boundaries and three towering sixes, giving the Royals a flying start in a crucial encounter. He was eventually dismissed in the ninth over but left a lasting impression with his fearless batting.

Speaking about the knock, BCA President Rakesh Tiwari expressed immense pride and confidence in Vaibhav's future.

"I am extremely happy today after seeing Vaibhav bat in the IPL. I always believed that whenever Vaibhav got an opportunity, he would perform well. I am confident he will continue to play such brilliant innings in the future as well," said Rakesh Tiwari.

"This is just the beginning. I believe Vaibhav has the potential to be one of the biggest names in Indian cricket in the years to come," he added.

Vaibhav on Saturday became the youngest player to play in IPL. The record was previously held by Prayas Ray Barman (played for RCB) who made his debut at the age of 16 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019.

Last year, Vaibhav became the youngest player ever to be bought at an IPL auction when Rajasthan Royals acquired him for Rs 1.1 crore. His sensational 2024 season saw him excel both domestically and internationally.

Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, Vaibhav is the youngest player to be part of this year's IPL. He made his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024, at just 12 years and 284 days old.

During his debut, Vaibhav scored 71 off 42 balls against Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, becoming the youngest Indian to score a List-A fifty.

On the international stage, Vaibhav set the record for the fastest youth Test century by an Indian, scoring a blazing 58-ball ton against Australia in Chennai. He also played a pivotal role in India's run to the ACC U19 Asia Cup final, contributing two crucial half-centuries.

- ANI