Which Teams Bid For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In IPL Auction Before RR Bought Him? – Which Teams Bid For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In IPL Auction?

The Phenomenon Named Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

At just 15 years of age, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has transformed from a promising young talent into an absolute sensation in T20 cricket. The Bihar-born prodigy, currently representing the Rajasthan Royals (RR), has completely redefined how fans and pundits look at modern batting in the shortest format of the game. Every time he walks out to the crease, there is an undeniable sense of anticipation and excitement. He plays with a fearless brand of cricket that belies his tender age, catching the attention of the global cricketing fraternity.

His explosive nature was on full display during the high-stakes May 27 IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sooryavanshi came agonizingly close to shattering one of the most iconic records in Indian Premier League history—Chris Gayle’s legendary 30-ball century. Smashing the bowlers all over the park, the young left-hander blazed his way to a breathtaking 29-ball 97. While he fell just three runs short of a historic 29-ball hundred, his knock cemented his status as a certified superstar. This extraordinary rise has left many wondering: how did Rajasthan Royals manage to secure this generational talent, and who else wanted him at the auction table?

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Who Chased the Bihar Prodigy?

During the IPL 2025 mega auction, franchises were busy rebuilding their core squads, and young, uncapped Indian talents were highly sought after. However, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi entered the auction room with a very humble base price of INR 30 lakhs. Despite his obvious raw potential, many teams were cautious, focusing their budgets on established international stars and proven domestic veterans.

Surprisingly, Sooryavanshi did not spark an all-out bidding war among all ten franchises. In fact, other than the Rajasthan Royals, there was only one other team that recognized his immense potential and actively raised the paddle for him: the Delhi Capitals.

The Bidding War: Delhi Capitals vs. Rajasthan Royals

The bidding kicked off with the Delhi Capitals being the first to show interest in the young Bihar batsman. They immediately challenged his base price of INR 30 lakhs. Sensing a unique opportunity to secure a future star, Rajasthan Royals quickly entered the fray. What followed was a swift and intense bidding war between the two franchises.

As the price escalated, the Delhi Capitals management pushed hard to secure his services. However, Rajasthan Royals—renowned for their exceptional scouting network and ability to nurture young talent—were determined not to let him slip away. The bidding climbed steadily before Hemang Badani and the Rajasthan Royals management secured the young batsman for a final price of INR 1.10 crore.

At that point, Delhi Capitals decided to drop their paddle, allowing the Royals to walk away with what is now looking like one of the greatest bargains in IPL history. While INR 1.10 crore is a significant amount for an uncapped teenager, Sooryavanshi was actually one of the least expensive acquisitions for Rajasthan Royals. In terms of money spent on individual players during that auction, he sat fifth from the bottom. For context, Rajasthan Royals spent a total of INR 40.70 crore in the auction to acquire 20 players, which included 14 Indian and six overseas stars.

How Rajasthan Royals Built a Balanced Squad Around Him

The acquisition of Sooryavanshi fitted perfectly into Rajasthan’s overall squad assembly strategy. Prior to the auction, RR had already retained a formidable core consisting of several key players:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• Sanju Samson
• Shimron Hetmyer
• Dhruv Jurel
• Riyan Parag
• Sandeep Sharma

Adding a dynamic young opener like Sooryavanshi to this established core allowed RR to build an incredibly explosive batting order. While he did not get as many opportunities in his debut IPL 2025 season as he has in the current campaign, his brief cameos showed exactly what he was capable of doing on the big stage.

A Steady Climb: From IPL 2025 to International Under-19 Success

In the IPL 2025 season, Sooryavanshi featured in only seven matches, but he made sure every opportunity counted. He registered 252 runs at an impressive average of 36.00. His standout performances included a blistering 37-ball century, alongside rapid knocks like a 15-ball 40 and a 33-ball 57. These performances proved that he belonged at the highest level of franchise cricket.

Following his initial IPL exposure, Sooryavanshi continued to hone his skills on the international junior circuit. He represented the India Under-19 team in highly competitive series against powerhouse nations England and Australia. He then carried his rich vein of form into the Under-19 Asia Cup in 2025, where he amassed 261 runs across five matches. This was followed by a stellar campaign in the Under-19 World Cup in 2026, where he finished with 439 runs from seven innings, scoring at an astonishing strike rate of 169.50.

Rewriting the Record Books in IPL 2026

While his junior career was highly impressive, his exploits in the ongoing IPL 2026 season have been nothing short of legendary. The 15-year-old has produced numbers that even veteran international players would be envious of. Sooryavanshi has officially broken the record for the most sixes hit in a single T20 tournament, a record previously held by the legendary Chris Gayle.

His historic performance in the IPL Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he smashed 12 sixes, catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard, earning him the prestigious Orange Cap. Currently, Sooryavanshi boasts the highest strike rate of IPL 2026, sitting at a mind-boggling 242.85 across 15 matches. With an average of 45.33, four half-centuries, and a magnificent century to his name, he has proven that he is not just a flash in the pan, but a dominant force who is here to stay in world cricket.