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Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has now become the biggest young sensation in Indian cricket after his fearless performances in the ongoing IPL 2026 for the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The young opener is now getting massive support for an early debut for India.
Even the former India national cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has strongly backed Vaibhav and feels selectors should bring the youngster into the national setup as soon as possible.
Vaibhav Pushes strongly for India debut with IPL 2026 heroics
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been ruling the headlines since his stunning performances during India’s successful campaign in the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year. The young opener has now taken his game into the next level in the ongoing IPL 2026 for the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
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The left-handed batter has been playing fearless cricket and has already become one of the most dangerous batters this season. In 11 innings so far, Vaibhav has scored 440 runs at a strike rate of 236.56. He has also smashed 40 sixes this season, the highest by any batter in IPL 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's attacking style and confidence at such a young age have impressed the global cricket experts. Many have been urging the Indian selectors to pick the young gun straight into India’s T20I squad.
Ready for International Cricket: Ravi Shastri’s big praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
And now Ravi Shastri, who is one of the successful Indian head coaches, heaped praise on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for what he is doing in the IPL 2026. He feels T20 cricket is the best format to introduce Vaibhav as soon as possible because he is ready for international cricket.
Ravi Shastri told host Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review: “The door would be three-fourths open. I can tell you that, for sure, because if you want to encourage or get someone young and into the setup as quickly as possible, then it's the T20 format of the game, and he is not short by any margin. This guy can walk into a lot of sides in world cricket at this current moment in time. Just when you look at the exuberance of youth and that youth shows on his face.”
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Ravi Shastri pushes for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut on the Ireland tour
The former captain also feels India’s upcoming Ireland tour in June could be the perfect chance to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his debut, which could also make him India’s youngest-ever player, to prepare him for the next T20 World Cup scheduled in 2028.
Shastri added, “A lot of people will ask, is he 15? Is he 16? Is he 14? I don't care. I just see the way he is batting at the moment and the way he's taking on all comers twice his age or maybe two and a half times his age. It doesn't matter to him. So, I think he's very, very much in the reckoning. And when you have tours of Ireland and all this happening now, I would be looking into him straight away.”
Notably, Vaibhav has recently received his first India A call-up for the Sri Lanka tour. He will now travel with India A to Sri Lanka next month for a tri-series involving Afghanistan as well. If he continues his current form, he could make his India debut soon.
