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With the mega-auction for IPL in 2025 to take place on 25th November in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the fervor is running extremely high amidst anxiety relating to the young talent joining the league and hopefully pulling off a costly price tag. Whether the IPL will remain a launching pad for young cricketers remains to be seen.
Actually, quite a few of the sport’s new faces have managed to book a berth in the national team of their respective countries after shining through the tournament. Every year, a number of young players catch the attention of franchises, and a few of them have also become millionaires at a startlingly young age.
Historically, the IPL auction has seen many players sold for big amounts at under-18 years of age.
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3 youngest players ever sold in the history of the IPL auction
1. Sarfaraz Khan (17 years, 3 months, 25 days)
Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan made a mark at a very young age with his stellar performances for Mumbai in Under-19 cricket and domestic tournaments. The breakthrough came when he was selected for the Indian team for the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. With decent form in the domestics, his form helped him draw the attention of the IPL scouts.
During the 2016 IPL mega auction, Sarfaraz was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 50 lakh. At that time, he was just 17 years, 3 months, and 25 days old. And hence, he became the youngest player sold in an IPL auction then. He ended up becoming a millionaire from the same auction. However, he played only one match for RCB in all his time with RCB.
2. Mujeeb ur Rahman (16 years, 9 months, 30 days)
Afghanistan’s spin sensation Mujeeb ur Rahman holds the record of being the youngest overseas player to be sold at the IPL auction. Just at the tender age of 16 years, 9 months, and 30 days old, Mujeeb was bought by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) for a whopping Rs 4 crore during the auction of the IPL 2018. And then, of course, there was Mujeeb Ur Rahman 16-year-old who turned out to be the most instant talking point. Not that he was disappointed either, displaying a fabulous inaugural season by claiming 14 wickets for his team.
That perhaps told one that age was no obstacle to the highest level of cricket, and here was one of the most exciting young players to have emerged in the league.
3. Prayas Ray Barman (16 years, 55 days)
At the top is Prayas Ray Barman – an Indian cricketer who plays for Bengal. He has been sold in the IPL auction as the youngest player ever sold. In the previous mega auction of IPL 2019, the Royal Challengers Bangalore bought him for a whopping Rs 1.5 crore. It was at the age of 16 years and 55 days, a new record for being the youngest ever to be bought at an IPL auction.
In the 2019 season, Barman has started representing RCB at 16 years and 157 days making him the youngest player ever to play in the tournament. However, in the IPL, his stay was a short one, as he only bowled 4 overs in his debut game against Sunrisers Hyderabad and gave away 56 runs, and went without any further outings in the League.
The IPL has long been a breeding ground for young talent and put them on an unparalleled stage to test the mettle of emerging cricketers. Though the careers are going quite different in terms of game time and the degree of success, Sarfaraz Khan, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Prayas Ray Barman have proven how the IPL can turn young teen prodigies into household names. When the 2025 auction arrives, it will be exciting to see who will rise and if they can follow in the same line as these initial pioneers.
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