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, Sooryavanshi received his maiden call-up to India's T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games. In doing so, he became the youngest player ever to be selected in the Indian men's team.
Upcoming Tours and Asian Games
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. The team will also compete in the men's T20 event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September.
Stellar IPL Campaign
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. He finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer and smashed a record-breaking 72 sixes, rewriting several long-standing IPL records. His consistent performances established him as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket.
All-Format Ambitions
The 15-year-old has made it clear that he wants to become an all-format player. During an interview with legendary Sunil Gavaskar in IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi expressed his desire to play Test cricket. After earning his maiden India call-up, he reiterated his ambition to excel across all three formats.
Dream to Play All Formats
"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. He added, "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."
"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.
Awards and Recognition
Sooryavanshi swept the post-season awards in IPL 2026, 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.
