Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes youngest to be picked for Team India
New Delhi, June 6
The 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was named in the Indian cricket squad for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, as well as the Asian Games, became the youngest-ever player to be picked for the national side, breaking a 36-year-old record held by legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar had made his India debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16, setting a record that stood for a very long time.
Sooryavanshi had a historic Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season where the rising sensation didn't just break out, he utterly dominated.
The Bihar-born sensation spearheaded a clean sweep at the tournament's post-season awards, capturing an unprecedented haul including Most Valuable Player (MVP), Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker, the Orange Cap, and Super Sixes of the Season.
The 15-year-old had an extraordinary tournament for Rajasthan Royals (RR), finishing as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 237.30. Sooryavanshi's consistent performances, including a record-breaking 72 sixes, helped him surpass several long-standing IPL records and establish himself as one of the most promising talents in Indian cricket during the 2026 season.
Playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the young southpaw systematically dismantled elite bowling attacks across the country, setting blistering new benchmarks for T20 cricket. He finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer with a staggering 776 runs, maintained an astonishing scoring clip of 237.30 and set a historic single-season record by launching a massive 72 sixes.
India plays Ireland in two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by five T20Is in England from July 1 to 11.
The men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format, running from September 24 to October 3. A total of 10 teams, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Oman, will battle for the gold medal.
The tournament will begin with the preliminary qualifying stage from September 24 to 26, before progressing to the quarter-finals on September 28 and 29. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, while both the bronze-medal playoff and the gold-medal final will be held on October 3.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I remember watching Sachin's debut on TV as a kid. Never thought anyone would break that record so soon. Sooryavanshi seems special, but let's not put too much pressure on him. Hope the selectors manage his workload well. 🙏
776 runs at a strike rate of 237? And 72 sixes in one season? That's insane. Even prime Dhoni or Kohli didn't do that in the IPL. Bihar's pride! 🌟
Record-breaking is nice, but I'm a bit skeptical. Many young talents faded after initial hype. Hope Vaibhav stays grounded and the system nurtures him properly. The England tour will be a real test, not just IPL pitches.
As a mom, I wonder how a 15-year-old handles all this pressure. Going to England, then Asian Games... hope the BCCI has good support systems. But so proud of our Bihar boy! 🤩
Finally some good news for Indian cricket after the T20 World Cup exit last year. Sooryavanshi is a breath of fresh air. The Asian Games gold is ours this time! 💪
Breaking Sachin's record is no small feat. But remember, Tend
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