NEW DELHI: Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned a place in the senior India side following his explosive performances in the IPL, Under-19 World Cup, and domestic cricket. On Saturday, the 15-year-old received his maiden call-up to India's T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games. This selection makes him the youngest player ever to be picked in the Indian men's cricket team.
Upcoming Series and Milestone
India will play two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by a five-match series in England from July 1 to 11. Additionally, the team will compete in the men's T20 event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Sooryavanshi's inclusion marks a historic moment for Indian cricket.
Stellar IPL 2026 Campaign
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a phenomenal IPL 2026 season, scoring 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. He finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer and broke several long-standing records, including a record-breaking tally of 72 sixes. His remarkable consistency established him as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket.
Post-Season Awards
The Bihar-born prodigy swept the post-season awards, claiming an unprecedented haul that included the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker, Orange Cap, and Super Sixes of the Season awards.
Ambition to Play All Formats
Sooryavanshi has made it clear that he wants to become an all-format player. During an interview with legendary Sunil Gavaskar in IPL 2026, he expressed his desire to play Test cricket. After earning his maiden India call-up, he reiterated his ambition to excel across all three formats.
"Mujhe red-ball cricket khelna hai kyunki main laal ball se practice karta hoon. Mera sapna teeno formats mein Bharat ke liye khelne ka hai [I want to play red-ball cricket because I practise with the red ball. My dream is to represent India in all three formats]," Sooryavanshi told Rajasthan Royals.
"Red-ball cricket ko lekar bahut log baat karte hain. Mujhse bhi poocha gaya ki aage chal kar red-ball cricket khelna chahta hoon ya nahi. Maine unhe bataya ki main red-ball se kaafi practice kar chuka hoon aur aaj bhi karta hoon. Maine apne state ke liye bhi kaafi red-ball cricket khela hai aur lagataar khelta rehta hoon [A lot of people talk about red-ball cricket. I was also asked whether I want to play red-ball cricket in the future. I told them that I have practised extensively with the red ball and continue to do so. I have also played a lot of red-ball cricket for my state and continue playing it regularly]," he added.
"Aur mujhe red-ball cricket khelna hai kyunki main laal ball se practice karta hoon. Har format ki apni alag demand hoti hai. Is format mein main isi tareeke se batting karta hoon kyunki yahan iski zarurat hai. Red-ball cricket mein jo zarurat hogi, uske hisaab se main apni batting ko badalunga. ODIs mein jo zarurat hogi, uske mutabik apna game adjust karunga. Mera sapna teeno formats khelne ka hai. Baaki sab Bhagwan jaante hain [I want to play red-ball cricket because I practise with the red ball. Every format has different requirements. I bat this way in this format because that is what it demands. In red-ball cricket, I will adapt my batting according to what is needed. In ODIs too, I will adjust my game based on the demands of the format. My dream is to play all three formats. The rest is in God's hands]," he said.
Sooryavanshi finished IPL 2026 as the tournament's highest run-scorer, amassing 776 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 237.30. His remarkable consistency, highlighted by a record-breaking tally of 72 sixes, saw him rewrite several long-standing IPL records and establish himself as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket.
The Bihar-born prodigy also swept the post-season awards, claiming an unprecedented haul that included the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker, Orange Cap and Super Sixes of the Season awards.
