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From IPL Prodigy to Team India: 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Dream Takes Flight
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Indian cricket may be witnessing the arrival of its next big star. Just months after lighting up the Indian Premier League with fearless strokeplay, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been rewarded with his first call-up to the Indian men’s T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Ireland and England.
The youngster’s inclusion is one of the biggest talking points in India’s squad announcement, underlining the selectors’ faith in a player who has rapidly progressed from a promising talent to a national contender. afrikasportnews.co.za
A Season That Changed Everything
Sooryavanshi’s rise has been nothing short of extraordinary. Representing Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, the left-handed batter produced a remarkable campaign, scoring 776 runs in 16 matches to finish as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.
His aggressive approach also saw him rewrite the record books. The teenager smashed the most sixes ever recorded in a single IPL season, surpassing a long-standing mark previously held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle.
IPL 2026 Highlights
Matches: 16
Runs: 776
Tournament Standing: Highest run-scorer
Record: Most sixes in a single IPL season
Awards:
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Best Emerging Player
These performances made him one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world and accelerated his path to the national team.
Chasing a Historic Debut
Should Sooryavanshi take the field during the Ireland or England series, he will become the youngest player to represent India’s men’s senior cricket team.
The milestone would place him ahead of Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at the age of 16 in 1989. For Indian cricket fans, the comparison is inevitable, although the teenager will now be focused on creating his own legacy.
New-Look India Squad
The squad announcement also marked a leadership change, with Shreyas Iyer appointed India’s T20I captain. The team features a blend of established internationals and emerging talents as India begins preparations for future global events.
For Sooryavanshi, however, this tour represents something even bigger—the opportunity to transform potential into reality on the international stage.
At just 15, he has already broken records, collected individual awards, and captured the imagination of cricket fans. The next chapter could see him become a piece of Indian cricket history.
The post From IPL Prodigy to Team India: 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Dream Takes Flight appeared first on SSI FANZINE.
Ajit Agarkar heaps praise on newly appointed T20I captain Shreyas Iyer
Though India batter Shreyas Iyer was not part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad last March, the Mumbai batter has been rewarded for his consistency, both as a batter and leader, when chief selector Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee named him as India’s new T20I captain on Saturday.
Iyer, 31, has represented India in 14 Tests, 76 ODIs, and 51 T20Is, scoring 811, 2977, and 1104 runs respectively. He will now lead India on the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, and at the Asian Games.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar addresses the media at the BCCI headquarters at Wankhede on Saturday. Pic/Ashish Raje
“We have seen what he [Shreyas] has done over the last few years, leading different [IPL] franchises. He won the [IPL] final once [for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024]. We have seen everything that a captain possibly can [handle]. His own performances have been really good,” Agarkar said during the post-selection press conference at the BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.
Agarkar reckoned that Iyer, who last played a T20I for India in December 2023, missed out on the T20 World Cup because of Suryakumar Yadav’s presence in the middle order. “He [Iyer] was quite close to getting into the [T20] World Cup squad. With Surya still there, there was no room for him,” Agarkar said.
Suryakumar Yadav
Explaining how Suryakumar lost his captaincy and place in the team, Agarkar, a former India pacer, said: “Obviously it’s a tough one having just won the T20 World Cup, but as it happens after most World Cups, we try and reassess what’s the best way forward. [It was due to] partly his [Suryakumar] own form, but also looking at the next two-year cycle, or a little more than two years now till the next World Cup, we thought this was the best way forward, and like I said, Shreyas is a very deserving captain.”
Agarkar admitted that Suryakumar was discussed in detail by the selectors.
“We deliberated on [Suryakumar] a lot, especially when someone has led you to a World Cup win. It’s not the easiest sort of discussion to have, but I don’t necessarily think... at some stage, we were going to look at it. Now, whether IPL form dictated it, I’m not so sure. There were always conversations around it,” he added.
The selectors rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the Ireland and England T20I series. However, the ace pacer will return for the Asian Games, which will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4.
80.76
Suryakumar Yadav’s winning percentage as T20I skipper — the highest among Indian captains; India won 42 and lost 10 of out 52 matches under his leadership
One
Shreyas Iyer is the only captain to have guided three IPL franchises to the final
Squad for Ireland and England T20Is
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Asian Games squad
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vc), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Jaiswal replaces injured Kohli
Star batter Virat Kohli will miss India’s three-match ODI series against Afghanistan later this month after failing to recover from a hamstring injury, and the selectors on Saturday named Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement.
Kohli, who plays only one format after retiring from Test and T20I, had suffered a hamstring injury during the recent IPL final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-Ups: Athapaththu, Wolvaardt and Amelia Kerr Shine as Rain Disrupts India’s Preparations in Cardiff
Trisha Ghosal, Cardiff
The weather in Cardiff was gloomy, cloudy, windy and relentlessly wet throughout the day, providing a very English backdrop to India’s latest training session ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
India had arrived at Sophia Gardens hoping for a productive outdoor session, but the persistent rain forced the team indoors for most of the day. There was a brief spell of sunshine around late afternoon and a few Indian players began making their way towards the outdoor nets. However, the respite was short-lived as the rain returned almost immediately. With showers continuing well into the evening and temperatures remaining chilly, India’s preparations were significantly curtailed.
While the weather dominated Cardiff, the tournament itself officially came to life as the first set of warm-up fixtures took place in Derby and Loughborough.
Sri Lanka produced arguably the most eye-catching performance of the day, cruising to a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan. Pakistan posted a competitive 168 for eight after recovering from a middle-order collapse. Openers Muneeba Ali (36) and Gull Feroza (26) laid the foundation, while captain Fatima Sana’s 37 from 26 deliveries ensured a strong finish. Sri Lanka seamer Chethana Vimukthi was particularly impressive, claiming four wickets.
The chase, however, belonged entirely to Chamari Athapaththu. The Sri Lankan captain blasted 94 from 58 balls, peppering the boundary with nine fours and five sixes. Alongside Vishmi Gunarathne, who remained unbeaten on 63, Athapaththu effectively sealed the contest with a dominant opening partnership. While the result will delight Sri Lanka, it also reinforces a familiar theme: when Athapaththu fires, Sri Lanka become a very different side.
In Loughborough, South Africa edged past Ireland by 15 runs in a match reduced to 18 overs per side. Unsurprisingly, Laura Wolvaardt was once again at the heart of South Africa’s batting effort. The Proteas captain struck a fluent 66 from 39 deliveries, accounting for almost half of her side’s total of 135 for eight.
Ireland’s bowlers kept themselves in the contest through Arlene Kelly, who picked up three wickets, while Ava Canning delivered an impressive spell, claiming two wickets and conceding only eight runs at the death.
Ireland’s chase never fully gathered momentum. Marizanne Kapp produced a masterclass with the ball, taking four wickets and removing both openers early. Leah Paul’s 29 offered resistance, but South Africa maintained control throughout to complete a comfortable victory.
New Zealand also enjoyed a productive outing, defeating Bangladesh by 68 runs. Amelia Kerr’s return to form will be particularly encouraging for White Ferns supporters. The captain remained unbeaten on 51 from just 28 balls as New Zealand posted 193 for three.
Suzie Bates contributed 45, Izzy Sharp added a lively 46, while Flora Devonshire provided late acceleration. Bangladesh never seriously threatened the target despite captain Nigar Sultana’s unbeaten 32. The standout performer with the ball was Nensi Patel, whose four-wicket haul dismantled Bangladesh’s middle order and underlined the growing importance of finger spin in English conditions.
Earlier in Derby, Scotland continued their encouraging build-up with a convincing 58-run victory over the Netherlands. After Katherine Fraser fell for a duck, Darcey Carter (33) and Kathryn Bryce (32) steadied the innings before Priyanaz Chatterji’s unbeaten 32 from 20 balls provided valuable late momentum, lifting Scotland to 163 for five.
The Dutch response never truly got going. Teenager Gabriella Fontenla struck early blows, while Fraser redeemed her batting disappointment with three wickets. Only Frederique Overdijk and Phebe Molkenboer offered meaningful resistance as the Netherlands were bowled out for 105.
For now, attention returns to Cardiff, where everyone associated with India will be hoping for a break in the weather. The next round of warm-up matches is scheduled for 8 June, with India set to face West Indies. Given the limited practice opportunities available so far, getting a full match in could prove invaluable before the World Cup proper begins.
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