Title: 15-Year-Old IPL Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Takes Home Car Prize, But Must Wait Until 18 to Drive

Teenage cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been awarded a vehicle for his outstanding contributions to the Indian Premier League, though the 15-year-old will need to wait three years before he can legally take the wheel. The minimum legal driving age in India is 18.

Sooryavanshi, a left-handed batsman, delivered a sensational performance during the current IPL season, accumulating 776 runs across 16 innings with an impressive strike rate of 237.30. His dominance earned him the title of Most Valuable Player for the 2026 season, even though his franchise, Rajasthan Royals, failed to reach the final. Additionally, he secured the Emerging Player award and the Orange Cap, which is bestowed upon the tournament’s top run-scorer.

Among his rewards was a Tata Sierra, a widely recognized mid-size SUV in India. However, due to age restrictions, he is currently unable to drive it. His individual earnings from the tournament exceeded £30,000.

Reflecting on his accolades, the India Under-19 international stated, "It's a proud moment, it feels great and I'll try to do even better next season."

Sooryavanshi made history last year by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in the IPL when he debuted for Rajasthan at the age of 14. He was signed during last year’s auction for 1.1 crore rupees (approximately £103,789). In the closing matches of this year’s tournament, he scored 97 and 96 in his final two innings. He also smashed 72 sixes, averaging more than four per innings—a total that surpassed the next-best performer by 29.

Despite his individual success, Rajasthan Royals were eliminated in the second qualifier last week, losing to the Gujarat Titans by seven wickets. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their consecutive IPL championship on Sunday, defeating Gujarat by five wickets in the final held in Ahmedabad.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-01 08:54:45 UTC