Perala Aman Rao: From Hyderabad Grounds to the IPL Spotlight

While many youngsters his age compete with textbooks, Perala Aman Rao is preparing to face some of the world’s best cricketers. The young Hyderabad batsman has earned a coveted opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League, marking a major milestone in his rising career. In the recent auction, Rajasthan Royals secured Aman Rao for ₹30 lakh, paving the way for his IPL debut next season.

Aman Rao, aged 21, hails from Hyderabad. His father is a businessman and his mother a homemaker. From a very young age, he developed a passion for cricket while playing alongside his elder brother Akash. What began as gully cricket at the age of seven gradually turned into structured training on proper grounds. Recognizing his talent early, his parents strongly supported his decision to pursue cricket as a career.

Discipline played a key role in his journey. Aman would begin his day at 5 a.m. for practice, with his mother waking up even earlier to prepare everything and personally drop him at the ground. His dedication paid off quickly, as he represented the state at the Under-14 level by the age of ten and consistently impressed in HCA leagues.

In 2018, Aman represented the South Zone in the BCCI Under-14 Tournament. He later captained Hyderabad in the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy, scoring 238 runs and guiding the team to the semifinals. That tournament proved to be a turning point in his career.

He continued his strong performances in the 2021–22 season, excelling in the Cooch Behar Trophy and Vinoo Mankad Trophy. His consistency carried into the following seasons. During the 2024–25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Aman scored 234 runs for Hyderabad with an impressive strike rate of 164. In the CK Nayudu Trophy (Under-23), he emerged as Hyderabad’s top scorer with 709 runs, including a marathon 193 against Haryana and a century against Jharkhand.

These performances caught the attention of IPL franchises, ultimately leading to his selection by Rajasthan Royals.

Speaking about his journey, Aman credits his parents for everything he has achieved so far. He admits that cricket brings pressure but says spending time with family and playing video games helps him relax. Missing out on selection for the BCCI Under-19 tournament in 2021 was a tough phase, but instead of giving up, he returned stronger with renewed focus.

Though he admires players like Kane Williamson and Rohit Sharma, Aman is clear about carving his own identity. He believes in developing a unique style rather than copying others and is determined to live up to the trust his parents have placed in him.