India Names 15-Year-Old Sooryavanshi in T20 Squad
India’s cricket selectors have included 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the national T20 squad, marking his first call-up for international cricket. The young talent earned his spot following an impressive performance in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL), where he topped the scoring charts for Rajasthan Royals.
Sooryavanshi scored a total of 776 runs during the IPL season, including one century and five half-centuries, and was recognized as the tournament’s most valuable player. His selection raises the possibility of him becoming India’s youngest-ever debutant, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted in Test cricket at 16 years and 205 days old in 1989.
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, expressed strong confidence in Sooryavanshi’s potential, stating, “For someone so young to perform and consistently back himself in such high-pressure and competitive environments is truly special. We have very high hopes for him and are excited to see how he develops at the international level.”
The squad announcement also saw a change in leadership. Suryakumar Yadav was removed as captain following a dip in form after leading India to World Cup victory earlier this year. Yadav scored 242 runs in nine World Cup innings and managed just 270 runs in 13 IPL matches this season. Shreyas Iyer was appointed captain in his place, bringing his experience as a successful IPL captain to the role.
Iyer’s credentials include winning the IPL title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and leading Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, in addition to guiding the team to the playoffs this season.
The upcoming fixtures include two T20 internationals against Ireland on June 26 and 28 in Belfast, a five-match series in England starting July 1 at Chester-le-Street, and participation in the Asian Games in Japan scheduled for September and October.
The squads for the Ireland and England tours feature a mix of experienced players and emerging talent: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
For the Asian Games, the squad includes Iyer as captain with Varma as vice-captain, alongside key players like Jasprit Bumrah and others aligned for multi-format success.
This strategic reshuffle and the inclusion of a young prodigy reflects India’s approach to blend experience with youth as they prepare for a busy international calendar.