5 major reasons why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be called up to India's senior T20I team?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 175 runs against England in the U19 World Cup final.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already solidified his place as a key player in the Rajasthan Royals’ lineup in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has again become a pre-eminent name in the news with his performance in the ICC U19 World Cup 2026.

The 14-year-old was named the Player of the Tournament as well as the player of the match against England for his commendable performance. The likes of Deepesh Devendran, Ayush Mhatre, and Khilan Patel also performed well for the Indian side.

However, Sooryavanshi turned out to be the biggest star, falling short of topping the list of the highest run scorers by only 5 runs. Thus, as he looks ready for his senior debut, here are the five reasons why Vaibhav should be called up to India’s senior T20I team.

5. Power-hitting ability

Sooryavanshi is a natural power hitter. At the U19 World Cup, he scripted history by hitting 30 maximums in seven innings. He broke South African batter Dewald Brevis’ record of 22 sixes created in 2022.

On the other side, he also broke his own record of most sixes in an individual innings of a youth-level ODI match in the final against England. Previously, he scored 14 sixes against the UAE in the Asia Cup in December 2025.

Moreover, he has smashed 110 sixes in 25 youth ODI matches, twice as many as Zawad Abrar, who is second in the list. Thus, he can be a trustworthy option in the environment of fast-paced T20 cricket.

4. Can play long innings

Playing against England, Sooryavanshi scored 175 runs, the highest by any player in an ICC tournament final, be it youth or senior. He scored the runs off 80 deliveries, while he completed his century in 55 balls.

Additionally, he’s also one of the only three batters with multiple 150+ scores in youth ODIs, after Pulindu Perera and Jorich van Schalkwyk. Sooryavanshi understands the game, and his ability to play long innings would help him in T20Is, where he will need to maintain his strike rate.

3. Can score all around the wicket

Sooryavanshi can hit shots with flair on both the off-side and the leg-side. The 14-year-old has a unique skill set, and with his batting prowess, he has already earned the title of a prodigy. With senior team exposure, he will only get better as he has many years ahead of him.

2. Generational talent

At 14, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is scripting the history of youth cricket day by day. He recently played a key role in guiding the Indian team toward the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup title, and he also has a century to his name for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

In the IPL, he has a strike rate of 202, having smashed 24 sixes in seven matches for the Royals. Vaibhav’s only concern has been his consistency and, at times, his shot selection, which has often led to him losing his wicket early in matches. However, he has been a firecracker for all the teams he has been a part of.

1. Looks ready for the senior team as compared to the rest of the U19 team

Sooryavanshi looks ready for the big stage. The Indian prodigy has given commendable performances in the last year, which should convince the selectors to call him up in the senior T20 cycle after the 2026 ICC World Cup.

Sooryavanshi’s explosive power and shot-making ability will be useful for India at the highest level of cricket. His fearlessness is something the Indian team can capitalise on in the upcoming T20I series in 2026.

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