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Former Team India opener Virender Sehwag saw a bit of himself in the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Sehwag noted similarities between them.
In terms of batting, both Sehwag and Vaibhav like to smack the bowlers from ball one. During his days as an active international batter, there were multiple matches when Virender Sehwag kicked off an innings by hitting a boundary. In Test cricket also, where most of the batters perform with a low strike rate, Sehwag loved to clear the ropes again and again, similar to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Virender Sehwag sees his own reflection in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his Team India debut after a landmark IPL 2026 season, winning the Orange Cap as the highest run scorer. The southpaw made his debut during India's tour of England, then he went to Zimbabwe to claim the Player of the Series award. Vaibhav recently featured in India's 2026 Asian Games triumph as well in Japan.
Speaking at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual session in New Delhi on Saturday, October 10, the former cricketer said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in his prime. But it will be interesting to see when and how many opportunities he gets to represent the Men in Blue at the top level of the game.
"Sooryavanshi is in his prime, and his thinking is somewhat similar to mine, that of hitting right from the first ball. Now, it is about when he gets the opportunity and how many matches he plays for India," Virender Sehwag said about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Performance matters: Virender Sehwag
Sehwag further in his comment mentioned that when a batter is playing in the Indian Premier League or for the India National Cricket Team, age does not matter; what matters most is the performance. Virender Sehwag highlighted that in the IPL, veterans like Virat Kohli, who is now 37, and Vaibhav, who is only 15, are playing for their respective teams. So, to pick the best, performance should be the only parameter.
"Look, if you are playing in an age category, it makes sense - if it's Under-19, your age should be under 19. But once you play the IPL or play for India, age doesn't matter. A 38- or 40-year-old (Virat) Kohli is playing, and a 15-year-old (Vaibhav) Sooryavanshi is also playing. Then, performance matters," the former cricketer added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is yet to play against West Indies
After the conclusion of the 2026 Asian Games, where India claimed the gold medals, defeating their arch rivals Pakistan, Vaibhav remains with the T20I squad for the ongoing series against West Indies. After the first two matches of the 5-T20I series, the scoreline is 1-1 as India and West Indies both claimed a win each.
In both of the matches, the Shreyas Iyer-led team did not include Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XIs, as they opted to open the innings with the experienced opening duo of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The third match of the series is scheduled to be held today at the Holkar Stadium.
