'We spoke for 2 to 3 minutes': Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reveals who called him first after Rajasthan Royals picked him

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was in Dubai when the IPL auction took place. Rajasthan Royals picked him up for Rs 1.1 crore in the 2025 auction - a move that has paid rich dividends ever since. The teenage sensation has become a crucial part of the Rajasthan Royals setup thanks to his fearless and explosive batting approach.In fact, when he made his IPL debut in 2025 against Lucknow Super Giants, the then 14-year-old announced his arrival in style by smashing a six off the very first ball he faced. Coming in as an Impact Player, Sooryavanshi launched Shardul Thakur over the boundary and went on to score 34 runs off just 20 deliveries.Sooryavanshi has now reflected on his memorable debut IPL season in 2025, recalling the emotional moment when Rajasthan Royals picked him at the auction and the early highlights that shaped his journey.Speaking to JioStar, Sooryavanshi revealed that the first congratulatory call after the auction came from Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder."I got the first call from Romi Bhinder sir, who is the team manager. I was in Dubai, and the auction was also taking place there. After the trials, I had spoken to him, and he had told me that they would go for me, and then we spoke for two to three minutes on the call while he congratulated me," he said.Looking back at his dream IPL debut, the youngster recalled the special feeling of hitting a six off the very first ball he faced in the tournament. Sooryavanshi hammered Shardul Thakur for a maximum against Lucknow Super Giants and immediately grabbed attention with his fearless approach."In my debut match, I hit a six off the first ball, so it was a very special moment and a great memory," Sooryavanshi said.The left-handed batter also spoke about his maiden IPL century later in the season against Gujarat Titans, describing it as a proud milestone for both himself and his family. His stunning 35-ball hundred became the fastest IPL century by an Indian batter and also made him the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history."Then, I scored a hundred in the same season, which was a very proud moment for both my family and me. It was only my third match, so it felt great to have such a good start to my IPL career, and I am just carrying that momentum forward now," he added.Sooryavanshi, who recently smashed a blistering 97 off just 29 balls in the Eliminator, also shared his mindset ahead of the Qualifier 2 clash."We are looking to go in with a good mindset and positive intent and continue doing what the whole team has done throughout the tournament. We should continue to enjoy the game, which we always do, not take the pressure of a big match, and back our strengths. As a team and as a unit, we want to reach the finals and hopefully lift the trophy," the rising sensation said.Sooryavanshi has been one of the standout performers this season. In 15 innings, he has scored 680 runs at an average of 45.33 and a stunning strike rate of 242.85, including one century and four half-centuries, with a highest score of 103. He has smashed 55 fours and 65 sixes in just 280 balls faced.