Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is on the 2026 TIME100 Next - Time Magazine
At just 15 years old, Indian cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is fast becoming one of global sport’s most electrifying figures. Born in a small village in India’s Bihar state, he first grabbed headlines making his professional debut at 12, but his meteoric rise accelerated in 2024 when the Rajasthan Royals made him the youngest player ever bought at an Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
Blending explosive power with uncanny composure, the left-handed batsman wasted no time proving his worth. In April 2025, shortly after turning 14, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player—and youngest centurion—in IPL history.
Sooryavanshi’s ascent reached new heights in 2026, when he powered India to the Under-19 World Cup title, while claiming Player of the Tournament honors. Months later, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar as the country’s youngest-ever senior international player to debut against England. But being new to international play didn’t affect his confidence. “For whatever duration I am on the ground, as long as I dominate and play, I can snatch the match from opponents’ hands,” he has said.
