Cricket Before Class: India’s U19 Star Vaibhav Suryavanshi Opts for IPL Training Over Board Exams
India’s U19 World Cup hero Vaibhav Suryavanshi has opted to skip his Class 10 board exams to join the Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 training camp. After a record-breaking 175* in the final and a 1.1 crore rupee IPL deal, the 13-year-old Bihar prodigy is prioritizing cricket over academics with full family and school support. Read more on this bold career move.
The decision to skip the 2026 secondary school examinations was not a spontaneous one, but a calculated move endorsed by both his family and his coaching staff. According to his coach, Suryavanshi will sit out the entire examination cycle this year to fully immerse himself in the rigors of the Indian Premier League. Following a grueling 2025 schedule that saw him break international records and secure a lucrative 1.1 crore rupee contract with the Rajasthan franchise, the youngster’s support system believes a dedicated focus on his immediate athletic commitments is paramount. His school administration has reportedly shown flexibility, supporting the decision to have the young batter retake his academic assessments in the following year once his professional obligations stabilize.
While the move has ignited a wave of enthusiasm among fans who view his single-minded dedication as a hallmark of future greatness, it has also sparked a nuanced debate within the broader sporting community. Supporters argue that a talent of Suryavanshi’s caliber—already a record-breaker at an age when most are just entering competitive age-group cricket—must seize the momentum of his World Cup success. Conversely, skeptics have raised concerns regarding the long-term risks of sidelining formal education so early in life, citing the volatility of professional sports. Nevertheless, the administrative and familial backing he enjoys suggests a structured approach to balancing his unique dual identity as a student and a high-stakes professional athlete.
Ultimately, Suryavanshi’s absence from the exam hall serves as a poignant reflection of the evolving landscape of Indian cricket, where the path to stardom is beginning earlier than ever before. As he joins the Rajasthan Royals camp in Nagpur to rub shoulders with global icons, the focus shifts from his textbooks to his technique under the spotlight of the world’s most prestigious T20 league. Whether this gamble pays off will be seen in the coming months, but for now, the young prodigy has made his stance clear: his immediate future lies in the 22 yards of the pitch rather than the confines of a classroom.

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