Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15-year-old sensation, called up to India’s T20 squad

The 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ⁠has been called up for India’s upcoming Twenty20 international series against Ireland and England, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) announced on Saturday.

Wonderkid Sooryavanshi comes into the India squad fresh ⁠off a breakout campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in which he topped the scoring charts with 776 runs, smashing a hundred and five half-centuries in 16 matches.

The left-handed opening batter also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in ⁠a season.

His performances for the Rajasthan Royals made him the first player in IPL history to be named both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Best Emerging Player, with many tipping him for a spot in the senior Twenty20 International side.

Should Sooryavanshi go on to make his debut against either Ireland or ‌England, he would become the youngest player to represent an Indian men’s senior team, bettering great Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut aged 16.

“We’ve seen what he can do, towards playoffs, almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals,” selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar told reporters.

“Not just this season, [he] had a great start, and to back it up in a competition that is as competitive and high-pressure, he’s a game-changer.

Agarkar ⁠added that Shreyas Iyer, who replaces Suryakumar Yadav as the new captain, had been appointed after ⁠guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024.