Cricket
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will beat Sachin Tendulkar’s record and become youngest debutant in history for an Indian men’s senior team if he plays against England or Ireland this summer; ‘He’s a game-changer, he’s picked himself,’ says India selection chief
Saturday 6 June 2026 15:57, UK
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, has been included in India’s T20 squads to play England and Ireland this summer.
Sooryavanshi had a stunning Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign for Rajasthan Royals, finishing top of the batting charts with 776 runs and breaking Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a season.
The left-handed opener, who was the first player in IPL history to be named both the Most Valuable Player and the Best Emerging Player, has now been picked for two T20 matches in Ireland, followed by five games in England, starting on July 1.
Should Sooryavanshi make his debut against either Ireland or England, he would become the youngest player to represent an Indian men’s senior team, bettering great Sachin Tendulkar, who made his debut aged 16 years and 205 days in 1989.
Sooryavanshi is in line for his international debut in Belfast, with India taking on Ireland in two T20s at Stormont Cricket Ground on June 26 and 28.
A reunion with Royals team-mate Jofra Archer could then be on the cards as India take on England in a five-match series from July 1-11.
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“We’ve seen what he can do; [he] almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals,” selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar said.
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“Not just this season. He had a great start and to back it up in a competition that is as competitive and high-pressure, he’s a game-changer. We’ve got high hopes of him and he has picked himself.”
India will be captained by Shreyas Iyer in both assignments, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who has been dropped despite overseeing their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign on home soil earlier this year.
Yadav made 242 runs in nine innings in the tournament at a strike-rate of 136.72 although he had a modest IPL, averaging 20.76 in 13 knocks.
Talismanic fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, having struggled during the IPL, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya also sits out the tour, with uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav called up.
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Sky Sports Cricket analyst and former England batter Mark Butcher said:
“Sooryavanshi’s ball-striking is utterly phenomenal.
“He first came to my notice when he smashed 175 in the U19 World Cup final against England and just from that – his follow-through, his ability to find every corner of the ground – the first thing that flashed into my head was Sir Garfield Sobers.
“The bat swing that goes all the way round and almost slaps him in the back. There is pure commitment to hitting the ball as hard as he can.
“He has done it in the IPL, the biggest and best T20 competition in the world, and against the best players – he flayed Pat Cummins.
“He is an astonishing talent and it will be great to see him over here.”
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First T20 (Wednesday July 1) – Banks Homes Riverside, Durham (5.30pm)
Second T20 (Saturday July 4) – Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester (2.30pm)
Third T20 (Tuesday July 7) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (5.30pm)
Fourth T20 (Thursday July 9) – Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol (5.30pm)
Fifth T20 (Saturday July 11) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (2.30pm)
Watch all five of England’s T20 matches against India live on Sky Sports. Coverage of the first match begins at 6pm on Wednesday, July 1, on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
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