Fifteen-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became India’s 122nd T20 International cricketer on Saturday (July 4), by making his debut against England at Old Trafford, Manchester in the second T20I of
the five-match series. He was handed his debut cap by the team’s vice-captain, Tilak Varma, in the team huddle.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir gave a long-ish speech in the huddle before inviting Tilak to coronate Sooryavanshi. Getting your first cap is one of the biggest moments in a cricketer’s lives — many have spoken about visualising and imagining how it would feel like for years.
Watch the moment here:
Young enough to surprise. Good enough to belong. 🇮🇳
At just 15, #VaibhavSooryavanshi becomes India’s youngest-ever debutant. 🙌#ENGvIND 2nd T20I 👉 Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/D6DsEU2Bxh
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 4, 2026
At 15 years and 99 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest cricketer to play a T20I for a full-member nation. Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer was full of praise for him at the toss.
“You’ve seen him in the last couple of months, the way he’s been smashing the ball, taking on the best of the bowlers, shows immense confidence that he possesses,” Shreyas said. “I feel that he completely deserves to be in the squad the way he has performed in the last couple of months and years. He’s someone who doesn’t take pressure at all. The way you see him inside the dressing room, he’s got that unflinching nature. And so good to have him around. I’m sure he’s very well aware of what’s going to come in these matches. And as I mentioned, he’s got a calm demeanour. He doesn’t take pressure at all. And the way he bats in the nets, the way he takes on the bowlers in the nets, literally shows what sort of character he is,” he added.
Shreyas won the toss and opted to bat first, immediately putting Sooryavanshi at the crease.
