NEW DELHI, India (AP) — A 13-year-old cricketer from India’s northern state of Bihar could become the sport's latest Twenty20 batting sensation.
The Rajasthan Royals think so highly of Vaibhav Suryavanshi that they paid $130,000 in the Indian Premier League's mega auction for his services, making him the youngest ever to be selected.
Suryavanshi came to the limelight last month when he scored a century against Australia's under-19 team off just 58 balls before he got out for 104.
At the age of 13 years and 187 days, Suryavanshi broke the record of Bangladesh’s present test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who at the age of 14 years and 241 days held the previous record of scoring a century at youth level.
The Delhi Capitals also showed interest when the bid for Suryavanshi started at his base price of $35,500.
“He’s been to our high performance center in Nagpur, he had trials there and really impressed our coaching set-up there,” Rajasthan CEO Jake Lush McCrum said after the auction ended Monday. “He’s an incredible talent and of course you've got to have the confidence so he can step up to the IPL level.”
McCrum described Suryavanshi as a “hell of a talent” and hoped lots of work will go into the coming months before the IPL begins on March 14 with former Indian captain Rahul Dravid among the coaching panel of the franchise.
Suryavanshi idolizes legendary West Indian batter Brian Lara and often gets tips from former India batter Wasim Jaffer, with whom he met during an under-19 tournament in Bangladesh last year.
Suryavanshi's father, Sanjiv, is his coach and has worked with him since his son showed interest in the game at an early age.
“He is not just my son now, but entire Bihar’s son," the elder Suryavanshi told Press Trust of India. "My son has worked hard.”
The IPL does not have a formal minimum age requirement, but in 2020 the International Cricket Council set the minimum age of 15 for players to compete internationally.
However, the game’s governing body also said at that time that cricket boards can request permission to allow players under 15 to represent their country.
Prayas Ray Barman held the previous record of youngest player to win an IPL contract. He was 16 in 2019 when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent about $200,000 for him. But the wrist spinner faded away after playing just one match.
Pakistani batter Hasan Raza holds the record of youngest cricketer to make his test debut — the five-day cricket format — at the age of 14 years and 227 days in 1996.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
CAPTION CORRECTS BYLINE - Vaibhav Suryavanshi, one the the youngest Indian cricket player to earn an Indian Premier League contract after Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed for approximately Indian rupees 1.10 crore or USD $ 130481, walks to bat during local Ranji Trophy cricket league, in Patna, India, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/ Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
CAPTION CORRECTS BYLINE - Vaibhav Suryavanshi, one the the youngest Indian cricket player to earn an Indian Premier League contract after Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed for approximately Indian rupees 1.10 crore or USD $ 130481, poses for a photograph during local Ranji Trophy cricket league, in Patna, India, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/ Aftab Alam Siddiqui)
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, one the the youngest Indian cricket player to earn an Indian Premier League contract after Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed for approximately Indian rupees 1.10 crore or USD $ 130481, walks to bat during local Ranji Trophy cricket league, in Patna, India, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/ After Alam)
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, one the the youngest Indian cricket player to earn an Indian Premier League contract after Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed for approximately Indian rupees 1.10 crore or USD $ 130481, poses for a photograph during local Ranji Trophy cricket league, in Patna, India, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/ After Alam)
OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 26, 2024--
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association is proud to release the finalists for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. This list includes the nation’s three best defensive backs based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241126181418/en/
Texas’ Jahdae Barron, Ohio State’s Caleb Downs and Georgia’s Malaki Starks are the three defensive backs chosen as the 2024 finalists. This group of finalists represents two Power Five conferences in the Big Ten and SEC.
Jahdae Barron
University of Texas
Cornerback, Sr.
41 tackles (27 solo, 14 assisted), 10 defensive stops, 4 interceptions (65 yards), 5 pass breakups, 8 passes defended, 1 fumble return, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries
(started 11 games, 617 total snaps, 47 receiving targets)
Caleb Downs
The Ohio State University
Safety, So.
51 tackles (30 solo, 21 assisted), 6.5 TFLs, 19 defensive stops, 3 pass breakups, 3 passes defended, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries, 1 punt return touchdown
(started 11 games, 592 total snaps, 20 receiving targets)
Malaki Starks
University of Georgia
Safety, Jr.
55 tackles (35 solo, 20 assisted), 14 defensive stops, 1 interception (0 yards), 2 pass breakups, 2 passes defended, 2 QB hurries
(started 11 games, 672 total snaps, 36 receiving targets)
The award recipient is selected from the three finalists by the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Selection Committee, which boasts an Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in-house award committee, former Paycom Jim Thorpe Award recipients, members of the NCFAA and sports writers and college football journalists throughout the country.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists Fan Vote
For the seventh consecutive season, the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award will hold the official Finalists Fan Vote. Voting opens Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. EST and closes Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. EST. Voting is free to all participants. The winner of the fan vote will receive one vote toward the overall nationwide results. Use the link below to be directed to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Finalists Fan Vote.
https://www.paycom.com/about/sponsorships/jim-thorpe-award/
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football’s most prestigious awards, and its 24 awards have honored more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. This season, 13 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its award programs, visit NCFAA.org or follow on X at @NCFAA.
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Important Dates
Thu., Dec 12: Winner Announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards
The winner will be announced on the ESPN live presentation of The Home Depot College Football Awards. Other recognized NCFAA awards announced include the Bednarik Award, Maxwell Award, Mackey Award, Rimington Trophy, Lou Groza Award, Ray Guy Award, Bronko Nagurski Award, Outland Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Biletnikoff Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Doak Walker Award, Walter Camp Award and others.
Tue., Feb. 4, 2025: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet Honoring the 2024 Winner in Oklahoma City
The official presentation of the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award takes place in Oklahoma City, following The Home Depot College Football Awards. The current winner and all former winners are invited each year to celebrate. Over 600 supporters attend the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Banquet each year, including many celebrities and dignitaries.
For more information on the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award and past award recipients, please visitoklahomasportshalloffame.org.
The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is awarded to the best defensive back in college football based on performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The award was established in 1986 and is named after history’s greatest all-around athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on the offensive side of the ball, but also stood out as a defensive back. In addition to his legendary performance on the football field, Thorpe played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. The Paycom Jim Thorpe Award is universally accepted as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports honors.
Paycom Software, Inc. (NYSE: PAYC) (“Paycom”), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, and the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame jointly announced in May 2017 an exclusive sponsorship of the Jim Thorpe Award. As a result, the accolade has been named the “Paycom Jim Thorpe Award.”
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (OSHOF) and Jim Thorpe Association is proud to release the finalists for the 2024 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. (Graphic: Business Wire)
