Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson talked about one of the most exciting things for the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 tournament. He backed their 13-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi to make a big name for himself in the upcoming IPL season.
The 13-year-old Bihar cricketer is about to become the youngest player to compete in the world's richest franchise cricket league. The left-handed hitter was recruited for Rs 1.10 crore by the Jaipur-based team during the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Ahead of the commencement of the 18th season of the IPL, Samson, who guided RR to the final in 2022, stated that Suryavanshi is prepared for the IPL and has already pleased RR management with his six-hitting abilities.
“Vaibhav looks very confident; he was hitting sixes out of the ground at the academy. People were already talking about his power-hitting. What else can you ask for? It’s all about understanding his strengths, backing him, and being there for him like an elder brother.
I think he looks ready to contribute. The key is to keep him in the best shape and provide a relaxed environment, which is something Rajasthan Royals is known for. We ensure a positive atmosphere in the dressing room and back our players. You never know—he might end up playing for India in a couple of years. I feel he is ready for the IPL. He looks capable of landing a few solid punches here and there. Let’s see what the future holds," Samson said on Jio Hotstar.
When asked about the advice he would give to a young talent like him, Samson said, “The boys of today don’t lack confidence at all. They are very brave and understand the current situation of Indian cricket and the brand of cricket that needs to be played. For me, rather than giving advice, I prefer observing first—how a youngster wants to play his cricket, what he likes, and what kind of support he needs from me. Then, I work my way around that."
Here is the video:
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, RR had parted ways with England’s Jos Buttler. Buttler joined the Royals in 2018. During his seven-year stay, the former England captain scored 3055 runs in 83 games, the most by any Rajasthan Royals batsman, at 41.84 with a strike rate of 147.79. His most outstanding performance occurred in 2022 when he amassed 863 runs, including four centuries.
However, RR didn’t retain Buttler, and the England T20 World Cup-winning captain was snatched by Gujarat Titans in the IPL mega auction.
According to Samson, letting go of his close friend Buttler was the toughest thing for him, and that if he had the power to change a rule in the IPL, it would be to never release players.
“IPL gives you the opportunity to lead a team and play at the highest level, but it also allows you to build close friendships. Jos Buttler is one of my closest friends. We played together for seven years, forming a long batting partnership. We knew each other so well and always kept in touch. He was like an elder brother to me.
When I became captain, he was my vice-captain and played a huge role in helping me lead the team. Letting him go has been one of the most challenging things for me. Even during the England series, I told him over dinner that I was still not over it. If I could change one thing in the IPL, I would change the rule of releasing players," he added.
Here is the video:
