India's Under-19 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to feature in the upcoming DY Patil T20 tournament in Navi Mumbai, which begins on February 23.
According to sources close to the player and the tournament organisers, discussions are at an advanced stage, with a high probability of the teenage prodigy turning out for one of the DY Patil teams. The organisers traditionally field two teams in the 16-team competition, which has grown into one of India’s most competitive corporate T20 tournaments
since its inception in 2003. Held at the DY Patil Stadium, the event regularly features several international and domestic stars looking to fine-tune their preparations before the IPL season.
Sooryavanshi’s potential appearance comes on the back of a sensational Under-19 World Cup campaign. The Bihar-born batter grabbed headlines with a 175 in the final against Afghanistan in South Africa. These innings powered India to a dominant victory.
The 14-year-old has barely stopped since returning from South Africa. Instead of heading home after the World Cup triumph, Sooryavanshi travelled to Talegaon near Nagpur, where the Rajasthan Royals’ training facility is located. He has been training there as part of preparations for the upcoming IPL season. The Royals camp is scheduled to continue until February 21, after which he is expected to travel to Patna and then to his hometown for a long-pending felicitation event, where he is likely to be presented with a vehicle in recognition of his achievements.
Following those engagements, Sooryavanshi could make his way to Mumbai to join the DY Patil T20 tournament. Over the years, the tournament has served as a valuable platform, providing young players with the opportunity to compete alongside veteran players.
Notably, he has shattered multiple records in age-group and domestic cricket and has already earned national recognition. On December 26, he was honoured with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in New Delhi.
