Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave Indian selectors no choice but to name him in their upcoming T20I squad, with his eye-catching form in the Indian Premier League hard to overlook.
The 15-year-old batting sensation has been turning heads in the IPL recently, going from being the youngest player bought in the competition’s auction in 2024 to earning his first call up to represent India on the global stage in 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of India looks on during the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026. ICC
Sooryavanshi, a left-hander, is the youngest person to ever earn an Indian call-up, named part of the squad that will tour Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games.
If he is to play against Ireland on on June 27 (AEST), he will overtake Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar as the youngest player to debut for India, having made his first appearance at the age of 16 against Pakistan in 1989.
Sooryavanshi was named the most valuable player in the IPL this season after he cemented himself as the highest run-scorer with 776 in 16 innings.
Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar admitted that Sooryavanshi’s told selectors all they needed to make sure he would be the right man to be named in the team.
Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi watches the ball. AP
“He has forced us to pick him with how well he’s played,” he said.
“For a young kid … I don’t need to talk about how well he is playing. And it’s not just this season, he had a great start [to his IPL career] last season.
“To back it up for a young kid in a competition that’s as competitive and has a high-pressure environment, and how explosive he can be and a game-changer that he can be.
“I know his age; how young he is and (it is) early in his career. But … we can see the kind of talent he has, and we are hopeful, if he gets the opportunity to play for the country, he will show the same ability.
“Playing for the country will mean tougher challenges, but he has shown tremendous temperament.
“Like everyone else that has watched T20 cricket in India, we have got high hopes for him.”
Sooryavanshi has been backed to achieve big things over the coming months, with Kerry O’Keeffe admitting that India should “roll the dice” and name the teenager to face Australia in next summer’s five-Test series.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seen warming up. AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia
In the IPL, he has proven he has what it takes to stun the talent he would see in that Test series, having smashed a six off a Pat Cummins ball at one stage.
He also hit a first ball six off Indian star Jasprit Bumrah in a match in April.
Shreyas Iyer has been named as captain of the squad for the upcoming matches, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who was dropped from the squad.
India’s T20I team (Ireland and England tour)
Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
India’s T20I squad (Asian Games)
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.