The buzz around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to grow, and now it has caught the attention of several former players, including Anil Kumble and Michael Vaughan, who believe the 15-year-old should be inducted into the Indian T20I team.
Left-handed Sooryavanshi is already an Under-19 World Cup winner, having been part of the Indian team earlier this year in Zimbabwe. He won the Player of the tournament award for his 439 runs in seven innings. Among his several records include youngest IPL player (14 years and 23 days), the youngest to score a century in men’s T20s (14 years and 32 days), fastest to score 150 in men’s List A cricket (14 years and 272 days).
Youngest debutants in each format
If Sooryavanshi gets to play for India in the T20I format, he will break batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record as the youngest-ever to represent the country in any format. Currently, Tendulkar holds the record, at 16 years and 205 days, playing his maiden Test against Pakistan in 1989, and also in ODIs, at 16 years and 238 days, also against Pakistan in 1989.
Also read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hits 15-ball fifty
The youngest-ever cricketer to play any format is Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, at 14 years and 227 days, when he featured in his first Test against Zimbabwe in 1996. Raza also holds the record in ODIs, at 14 years and 233 years.
At 18 years and 80 days, Washington Sundar is the youngest Indian to play T20Is. His record came against Sri Lanka in 2017. The youngest-ever debutant in the format is Romania’s Marian Gherasim, who played against Bulgaria in 2020.
What Vaughan said
Impressed by Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting in the ongoing IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals (RR) against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30 in Guwahati, where the young talent scored a fifty in just 15 balls taking on prolific bowlers like Matt Henry, former England captain Vaughan has called for the youngster to be fast-tracked into the Indian senior setup, particularly for the upcoming white-ball tour of England.
India are set to play five T20Is in England between July 1 and 11. Also, the team will play three T20Is in Zimbabwe on July 23, 25, and 26.
Speaking after Sooryavanshi’s explosive knock, Vaughan suggested that India should prioritise exposure over immediate selection in the playing XI. “When will he make his Indian debut? And I’m just looking, and I know we’re probably getting ahead of ourselves. It’s only the first innings of the IPL, but there’s a white-ball tour to England in a few months’ time. And if I was Indian cricket, I would get him on that tour,” Vaughan told cricbuzz.
Also read: 5 players who have lit up IPL 2026
However, he acknowledged that while it may be too early to expect the young player to break into a settled side, being around the senior squad would be invaluable.
He stressed that understanding the environment, dressing room culture, and expectations of international cricket is crucial for a young player’s development.
‘Not straight in but have him around’
Vaughan was clear that the move is less about instant impact and more about long-term grooming. “Not necessarily jumping straight into the side… just having him around,” he added, underlining the importance of gradual integration.
The former England skipper believes Sooryavanshi already has the talent to compete at the highest level, but the experience of touring with the national team could accelerate his growth significantly.
With India’s packed international calendar ahead, Vaughan’s suggestion places the spotlight firmly on how the team management handles one of its most exciting young prospects. Whether or not he gets game time, the message is clear, Sooryavanshi is already being seen as a future star ready for the global stage.
Kumble, Rayudu, Chawla back Sooryavanshi
India’s ex-captain Anil Kumble too said Sooryavanshi should be fast-tracked like Sachin Tendulkar.
“Yes, absolutely. If a player shows this level of consistency, he should be fast-tracked, just like Sachin Tendulkar,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.
Former India spinner Piyush Chawla said he “would love to see him fast-tracked” to the top level. Ex-India batter Ambati Rayudu said the young man was “definitely in the race”.
“He looks a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country, and he’s a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket. I don’t know when, but definitely in the future,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo‘s TimeOut show.
“I think definitely the T20 format (for his maiden call-up). If he has a very good IPL and if he shows that he has the ability to keep calm under pressure… because, don’t forget, our Indian team is a world champion team. It’s won the T20 World Cup. So to replace somebody in that side is not easy,” Rayudu added.
“That’s the beauty of this IPL. At the age of 15, he is facing the world-class bowlers. So, when he goes to the international level, he won’t be a stranger. It’s not that he hasn’t faced a 140(kph)-plus bowler. He has already done that. He has already smashed them,” Chawla said on the show.
Support from Pakistan
Former Pakistan player Kamran Akmal too joined the chorus. “In just eight IPL games, he has been piling records – he already has a hundred. I think in the coming international games for India, he will get a chance after IPL. He will become a young player of the T20 international team. He has proved himself in every place. If he continues to perform, he will definitely get the chance,” Akmal said on Gameplan show on YouTube.
“His presence of mind, game awareness, the way he plays – he has a counter to everything at such a young age. This is remarkable … We are discussing his performance more because it was a match of 128 (runs). But his performance is visible because he scored 50 runs off 15 balls,” he added.
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