Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson recently elaborated on the franchise's choice to invest Rs. 1.10 crore in 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the IPL 2025 auction. Samson emphasized the young talent's "something special" abilities, which captured the attention of the franchise's decision-makers and ultimately resulted in the signing of the promising player.

Suryavanshi gained recognition following an impressive innings of 104 runs against Australia U19 in an unofficial Test match held in October. The match, conducted in Chennai, showcased the young batsman’s skilful play, as he struck 14 boundaries and four sixes, contributing to India's two-wicket triumph.

His performance was particularly notable, as no other player in the match achieved a century.

In an interview with South African legend AB de Villiers, Samson reflected on his initial encounter with Suryavanshi's talent. “I have seen his highlights,” Samson remarked.

“All members of the Rajasthan decision-making team witnessed his batting during the U19 Test match against Australia in Chennai, where he scored a hundred off 60-70 balls. The shots he played were extraordinary, and we believed it was essential to include such exceptional individuals in our team and explore their potential.”

The 'tradition' of RR.

Samson emphasized that the Rajasthan Royals have a rich history of developing young talent and transforming them into prominent players.

"The Rajasthan Royals have a legacy of identifying potential and cultivating champions. Take Yashasvi Jaiswal, for instance; he joined RR as a young player and has now become a star in the Indian team. Similarly, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel exemplify this trend. The Royals are passionate about this approach—while we aim to win the IPL, we are equally committed to contributing champions to Indian cricket," stated Samson.

The franchise's dedication to nurturing young talent has been a fundamental aspect of its strategy, and they are eager to witness the growth of Suryavanshi. "It will be thrilling to meet him," Samson remarked.

The Rajasthan Royals successfully competed against the Delhi Capitals to acquire Suryavanshi's services. Following the auction, RR CEO Jake Lush McCrum disclosed that the young player had made a significant impression during trials at the franchise's high-performance centre in Nagpur. "He attended our high-performance centre in Nagpur, underwent trials, and truly impressed our coaching staff," McCrum noted. "He possesses remarkable talent, and it is essential that he has the confidence to perform at the IPL level."

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