Former India selector Saba Karim believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is destined to play all three formats for India, saying the 15-year-old's fearless batting
and rapid development make him one of the country's brightest talents.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for an India debut continues, but the excitement surrounding the teenage sensation shows no signs of slowing down.
Former India wicketkeeper and selector Saba Karim believes the youngster is not only ready for international cricket but also capable of becoming an all-format player for India in the near future.
Speaking on JioStar's Game Plan, Karim said Sooryavanshi has already captured the imagination of cricket fans around the world following his extraordinary IPL campaign.
'The entire world is waiting to watch him'
Karim believes the hype surrounding Sooryavanshi is fully justified after the teenager's remarkable rise over the past two years.
"In my opinion, in the history of the IPL, perhaps after that season of Virat Kohli when he scored so many runs, if one season has to be defined, it is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL, IPL 2026," Karim said on JioStar.
The former selector said the youngster has already shown he can dominate elite bowling attacks.
"The kind of performances he has put in against top-quality bowlers, even though in Indian conditions, have been top-notch. I have full faith in his ability to score big runs. "
Karim believes Sooryavanshi's popularity now extends well beyond India.
"Not only Indian fans but the entire world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the same manner that he did in the IPL. I have high hopes for this young lad. Very soon, we will see him in all three formats. I am dead sure about it. "
Karim recalls hearing about Sooryavanshi before his IPL debut
Karim revealed he had been hearing about Sooryavanshi long before the teenager exploded onto the IPL scene.
According to him, several coaches urged him to keep an eye on the youngster before the 2025 auction.
"Before last season's IPL, I remember getting a lot of videos from all his coaches, Manish Ojha from the Patna academy, our Bhojpuri commentator Robin, and a few others, saying, 'Sir, you have to watch him. He's a kid, but he has great timing. '"
When Rajasthan Royals signed Sooryavanshi, Karim simply hoped the youngster would get an opportunity to showcase his talent.
"I was just hoping that he would get a chance to play at least once because I wanted the world to see that India now has such a talented player. "
He was particularly impressed by the fearless approach shown on debut.
"Just imagine, you're playing your first match on such a big platform, up against a top-quality bowler who has played for India. He had no baggage whatsoever. The first ball he faced, he completely dismissed the bowler from his sight. This is what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is all about. "
Why Karim never feared a second-season slump
Many expected opposition bowlers to expose Sooryavanshi after his breakthrough IPL season, but Karim never shared those concerns.
"Everybody still felt that in the second season, it was possible that bowlers would come with definite plans against him. But I didn't feel that he would have second-season blues. "
Karim also recalled a conversation with Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour regarding the teenager's ability against genuine pace.
"I asked him if Vaibhav could find it challenging against top-quality bowling or short-pitched deliveries at 145-150 clicks. He said, 'Saba, just wait and watch. ' I think he is equally prepared to handle any kind of delivery. "
Ability to adapt sets him apart
Karim believes Sooryavanshi's greatest strength is his ability to quickly identify how bowlers are trying to dismiss him and develop new scoring options accordingly.
"He realises very quickly where the bowlers might target him, takes a few balls to assess whether he has the shots in his armoury to score against those deliveries, and prepares accordingly. "
He pointed to the teenager's expanded shot-making as evidence of his rapid development.
"This year we have seen him start to play the upper cut against shorter deliveries, hit through the covers with a strong base, go over long-off, over cover, and play inside-out shots. All these shots that he has added to his scoring repertoire mean that now, whatever the conditions are, whatever the bowling attack is, he is ready. "
With India set to continue their five-match T20I series against England, Sooryavanshi is still waiting for his maiden international appearance. But if Karim's prediction proves accurate, the teenager's debut may only be the beginning of what could become a long-term career across all three formats for India.
