Former Indian cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Piyush Chawla expressed their desire to see 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi included in India’s Twenty20 squad after his impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Sooryavanshi had a remarkable debut season in the IPL last year, where he hit a six off the first ball he faced and later scored a century off 35 balls in another match. He was named the player of the tournament in India’s Under-19 World Cup win earlier this year and recently played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ victory over Chennai Super Kings by scoring a quick half-century off 15 balls.
Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s progress, former Indian batsman Kaif commented, “Last season, I felt Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was being hyped too early. However, a year later, I believe he is prepared to step up. This 15-year-old has the ability to entertain and deliver match-winning performances.”
Former cricketer Chawla shared a similar sentiment, saying, “If he continues playing like this, I would be eager to see him fast-tracked into the national team. He has consistently scored big centuries in various tournaments over the past year.”
Another former Indian player, Ambati Rayudu, praised Sooryavanshi’s talent, stating, “He stands out among the young cricketers in the country and has the potential to excel in Indian cricket in the future.” However, Rayudu acknowledged the challenge of securing a spot in the T20 squad, which recently clinched the World Cup title.
Rayudu emphasized, “Our Indian team is currently the T20 World Cup champion, making it tough for a player like Sooryavanshi to break into the side. There are established players ahead of him, with the team focusing on building for upcoming ICC competitions.”
