Sooryavanshi, 15, wins car at IPL awards - but cannot drive it
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- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the IPL’s youngest debutant at 14 and, at 15, amassed 776 runs in 16 innings with a 237.30 strike rate, earning the Most Valuable Player award.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also captured the Emerging Player award and the Orange Cap, hitting 72 sixes—over four per innings—far ahead of the next best tally.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was awarded a Tata Sierra SUV, but India’s legal driving age of 18 means he must wait three years before he can use it.
- Rajasthan Royals signed him for 1.1 crore rupees (£103,789) at last year’s auction, yet the team fell short of the final, losing to Gujarat Titans in the second qualifier.
- Sky Sports echoed the Indian press, emphasizing his record‑breaking performance at the awards ceremony while noting Virat Kohli’s RCB clinched a back‑to‑back IPL title.
Why it matters: The 15‑year‑old’s prize boosts his market value and inspires other young athletes, while the Rajasthan Royals’ investment of 1.1 crore rupees gains publicity despite missing the final. The delayed eligibility to drive the car highlights India’s strict age regulations.
