With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega-auction all set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the spotlight will be on both experienced and young talents. The retentions of some franchises have shocked many fans as they did not expect some experienced players who have performed well for the IPL teams to be released.   

The IPL has historically been a platform where youth meets opportunity. The tournament has consistently attracted and nurtured cricket’s youngest prospects who have achieved big heights for their franchise and then for their nation.

The upcoming auction is another opportunity for young cricketers to announce themselves in one of the toughest leagues in the world. With 574 players in the pool, including 318 uncapped Indian players, the auction will see teams raise their paddle for some unexpected young players. Among the shortlisted players, 366 are Indian, and 208 are overseas players. This auction could be important for many, with 204 slots available, including 70 for overseas players.

Also Check: IPL 2025: 3 Overseas players who could go unsold in upcoming auction

Here are the youngest players in IPL auction:

4. Mujeeb ur Rahman (2018) – 16 years and 296 days

Afghanistan’s mysterious spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman created history back in 2018 by becoming the youngest player in the IPL auction at the age of 16 years and 296 days. After being shortlisted he was later picked by Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) for INR four crore.

His breakout season came in the same year as he claimed 14 wickets in 11 matches with an economy rate under seven runs per over. The same year, he achieved another milestone by representing Afghanistan in their historic first Test match against India. Though he was retained by the Punjab franchise for the next two seasons but had an underwhelming campaign, with just three wickets from seven games.

He then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he hoped to recreate his early magic but featured in one match and took two wickets. After missing out on three seasons he joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014 but was sidelined from the competition due to an injury.

3. Prayas Ray Barman (2019) – 16 years and 54 days

Bengal-born Prayas Ray Barman became a teenage sensation after fetching an INR 1.5 crore bid from Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2019 IPL auction. He became one of the youngest players ever to earn an IPL contract at the age of 16 years and 54 days.

His debut came against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 31, 2019, making him the youngest debutant in IPL history. However, he conceded 56 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket. With the bat, he scored a quick 19 runs and that is the only IPL match he has featured in.

Unfortunately, he was released by RCB before the 2020 season and hasn’t returned to the IPL since. His domestic career with Bengal also hasn’t been great as he was not a consistent name in their squad in recent times.

2. Allah Ghazanfar (2023) – 15 years and 161 days:

Allah Ghazanfar is another Afghanistan player to be a part of this list. During IPL 2023, Ghazanfar was another young talent from Afghanistan. At just 15 years and 161 days, he made headlines by entering the 2023 IPL auction, though he went unsold at the time. His fortunes changed when he joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 as an injury replacement for Mujeeb-ur Rahman. Furthermore, Mumbai Indians (MI) were interested in signing him as a net bowler ahead of the previous season but were unable to secure a visa for him.

During a recent match against Bangladesh in Sharjah, he claimed extraordinary figures of 6/26. His spell triggered a batting collapse, with Bangladesh losing seven wickets for just 11 runs, setting a new record for best bowling figures in Afghanistan-Bangladesh ODIs. Having already represented Afghanistan in 8 ODIs with 12 wickets to his name, Ghazanfar’s abilities were also evident during the Emerging Asia Cup 2024.

1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (2024) – 13 years and 242 days:

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, at just 13 years and 242 days, has made history as the youngest player ever shortlisted for an IPL auction. This left-handed batting prodigy, listed in the uncapped batter category (UBA9) at position 491, has already shown brilliance with his bat at a very young age.

After making his First-Class debut for Bihar in January 2024, Suryavanshi caught everyone’s attention with a stunning century during the September India U19 vs. Australia U19 Youth Test series. Suryavanshi is all set to represent India in the upcoming U19 Asia Cup, and there are chances the teams might bid for me as a future prospect.