Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the most talked-about young talents in Indian cricket after his sensational performances in the IPL. The 15-year-old batter grabbed headlines with his record-breaking displays, leading many fans to believe that he could soon make a mark at the international level.
Sooryavanshi was included in India’s tour of Ireland and England, where he made his international debut. However, his initial outing in T20Is was modest, as he managed 42 runs in three matches. During the England series, he created history by becoming the youngest Indian to make an international debut, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record when he featured in the second T20I in Manchester.
Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane believes Sooryavanshi should be given enough time to develop without being burdened by expectations. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket Podcast with former England captain Michael Vaughan, Rahane was asked whether the young opener was ready for a place in India’s Test squad.
Rahane said it would be too early to make a judgment and warned against putting unnecessary pressure on the teenager. He explained that IPL and international cricket are completely different challenges, with the pressure of representing the country being much greater.
He highlighted that success in the IPL does not automatically guarantee immediate success in international cricket. According to Rahane, Sooryavanshi should focus on improving his game, gaining experience and growing naturally as a cricketer.
The young batter’s rise has been remarkable over the past year. He became the youngest player to score an IPL century after smashing a hundred against Gujarat Giants. Earlier, he also played a key role in India’s Under-19 World Cup triumph, scoring 175 runs against England in the final.
Sooryavanshi had a historic IPL season as well, scoring 776 runs in 16 innings at an outstanding strike rate of 237.30. He became the first uncapped player to cross 700 runs in a single IPL season and also created a record by becoming the first player in T20 history to score 500 runs in the powerplay during one tournament edition.
While his achievements have made him a future star, Rahane believes the youngster needs the right guidance and time before taking the next big step in Test cricket.
