Cricket Prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Kris Srikkanth Demands Immediate India Call-Up, Cites Sachin Tendulkar Comparison
POLICY WIRE — New Delhi, India — The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old phenom whose spectacular performance in IPL 2026 has caught the...
POLICY WIRE — New Delhi, India — The cricketing world is abuzz with excitement surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old phenom whose spectacular performance in IPL 2026 has caught the attention of former cricketing legends.
Former Indian skipper Kris Srikkanth has emphatically advocated for the swift inclusion of the teenage prodigy into the national squad. Even rival captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s immense potential, calling him “one for the future.”
Srikkanth, renowned for his candid observations, made a strong appeal to the selectors, urging immediate action. He reportedly told The Week, addressing chief selector Ajit Agarkar, that the youngster’s extraordinary shot-making ability makes him “outstanding and brilliant.”
No Time to Wait for a Match-Winner
The former chief selector rejected any notion of a gradual development path for Sooryavanshi, firmly stating that the young player is already prepared for top-tier competition. Srikkanth highlighted his belief that Sooryavanshi possesses the innate ability to single-handedly secure victories for his team.
He underscored the teenager’s fearless approach against elite bowlers this season, citing instances where Sooryavanshi effortlessly struck sixes against Jasprit Bumrah and attacked Josh Hazlewood without hesitation. Srikkanth remarked on his audacity, noting, “Imagine, first ball, he hits Bumrah for a six… he’s not bothered about who the bowler is. He’s a prodigy.”
Sooryavanshi has backed the hype with impressive statistics, accumulating 246 runs in merely six matches this season at an extraordinary strike rate of 236.53. This kind of explosive performance has drawn comparisons to other breakout stars; for instance, Abhishek Sharma has also made headlines by dominating the IPL 2026 Orange Cap Race.
The Tendulkar Parallel
In a particularly significant comparison, Srikkanth drew parallels between Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise and the early career of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. He recounted Tendulkar’s debut at age 16 when Srikkanth was captain in 1989, a player who later became known as the “God of Cricket.”
Srikkanth boldly asserted that Sooryavanshi possesses the potential to follow in Tendulkar’s footsteps, proclaiming, “Similarly, this boy could well become the next ‘demigod’ of cricket.” This high praise has significantly amplified the expectations for the young player.
The enthusiasm for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi extends beyond former cricket luminaries. Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer also lauded the youngster’s exceptional technique and composed temperament, stating, “He is a spectacular talent… the way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum… I think he is one for the future.”
As the cricket community anticipates his future, all attention is currently on the budding star as his team, Rajasthan Royals, prepares to face Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday. Sooryavanshi remains at the heart of a significant ongoing debate within Indian cricket regarding the development of its next generation of talent.
