Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reached another milestone on Saturday when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named the 15-year-old in India’s T20I squads for the upcoming tours of England and Ireland,
rewarding his record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign.
Sooryavanshi’s selection follows a sensational season with the Rajasthan Royals, where he dominated the tournament and finished as the highest run-scorer. The explosive left-handed opener amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 237.30, earning the Orange Cap and several individual honours. His campaign featured a record 72 sixes, the most by any batter in a single IPL season, establishing him as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket.
The selection also makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the youngest player ever to receive an India call-up, surpassing the age record previously associated with Sachin Tendulkar.
A maiden #TeamIndia call-up at the age of 1️⃣5️⃣ 🌟
Congratulations to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on setting a remarkable record 👏 pic.twitter.com/htOt9kci4p
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 6, 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can become the youngest player ever to represent the Indian men’s team. If handed a debut, he would surpass Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut in 1989 at 16 years and 205 days.
Rise Of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
His meteoric rise has been built on impressive performances in age-group cricket, particularly for India’s Under-19 side, before he exploded onto the IPL stage.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the teenager’s performances made the decision straightforward.
“Sooryavanshi has picked himself through his performances with so much talent around in T20 cricket,” he explained at the press conference.
Known for his fearless approach and clean ball-striking, Sooryavanshi became one of the defining stories of IPL 2026. In addition to winning the Orange Cap, he was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes award winner.
Bihar’s Pride
His journey from Bihar’s cricketing circuit to the Indian dressing room has been swift and extraordinary. At just 15 years of age, Sooryavanshi now stands on the verge of making his international debut, capping one of the most remarkable breakthrough stories Indian cricket has witnessed in recent years.
For those who have followed his journey closely, the call-up is a moment of immense pride. His childhood coach, Manish Ojha, became emotional while reflecting on the teenager’s success and the impact he has had on cricket in Bihar.
“A couple of years ago, I thanked Vaibhav’s father (Sanjeev Sooryavanshi) for bringing the kid to me. Ispe bhagwaan ka haath hai (He is God’s child). It is because of him that I got recognition, otherwise who gives two cents about a cricket coach in Bihar?” an emotional Manish was quoted as saying to TOI after the 15-year-old received his maiden India call-up for the Ireland and England series.
(With inputs from Agencies)
