Spotlight on the youngest talents in IPL 2025 Mega Auction list

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction promises to deliver plenty of surprises and record-breaking moments, with an unprecedented number of Indian and overseas superstars in contention. All ten franchises are gearing up to build their squads from scratch.

-Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Age: 13 years 234 days) Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, Vaibhav is the youngest player on the list. He made his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024 at just 12 years and 284 days old. Last month, he was part of India U19’s match against Australia in Chennai, where he smashed a 58-ball century.

-Ayush Mhatre (Age: 17 years 123 days) An opening batter, Mhatre earned a surprise call-up to Mumbai’s Irani Trophy squad last month but failed to impress with scores of 19 and 14 against the Rest of India. However, Mhatre has showcased excellent form in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 52 in his debut innings and following it with a 176 against Maharashtra.

-Hardik Raj (Age: 18 years 44 days) Hardik had an impressive 2024 season, playing for Shivamogga Lions in Karnataka’s Maharaja T20 Trophy at the age of 16. A spin-bowling all-rounder, he bowls left-arm spin. In this year’s Maharaja Trophy, he scored 155 runs in seven innings, including one fifty, with a strike rate of 180. He also claimed seven wickets.

-C Andre Siddarth (Age: 18 years 80 days) Siddarth, the nephew of former Tamil Nadu batter and selector S Sharath, has been making waves. He featured in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) for the Chepauk Super Gillies and played in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament this year.

-Kwena Maphaka (Age: 18 years 104 days) The youngest overseas player on the list, Kwena Maphaka, is a South African U19 pace sensation who shone during this year’s U19 World Cup with 21 wickets. He secured an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians (MI) last year, making two appearances and conceding 89 runs in six overs.