Ajit Agarkar Urged to Fast-Track Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Could He Be the Next Sachin Tendulkar?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is quickly becoming one of the most talked about young cricketers in India. As he continues to perform brilliantly in the Indian Premier League (IPL), reports suggest that he is now very close to being selected for the Indian national team.

BCCI selectors have reportedly added the 15 year old to their list of probable players for an upcoming series. Meanwhile, as the excitement around him keeps growing, former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has made a very rare and bold comparison, which has further increased public interest.

The Rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Notably, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi grabbed attention when he made his IPL debut at just 14 years old. On his very first ball, he hit a massive six against Shardul Thakur, which immediately made headlines.

Since then, Rajasthan Royals, who bought him for ₹1.1 crore, have seen him grow into an exciting player. Moreover, in IPL 2026, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has continued to perform brilliantly, leading to increasing demands for his selection in the Indian team.

Kris Srikkanth Urges Quick Selection

While speaking to the media, Kris Srikkanth, who is also a former chief selector, urged current BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar to quickly bring Sooryavanshi into the Indian team.

Srikkanth explained that the young player's fearless style of batting has impressed him greatly. Furthermore, Sooryavanshi has performed well against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, which shows his ability to compete at a high level.

“This guy, Sooryavanshi… imagine someone playing such shots. That boy is simply outstanding and brilliant. Ajit Agarkar, I'm telling you, you need to fast-track him. The next series, he should be playing. I've been saying this from last year. He should have been fast-tracked, even into the T20 World Cup squad. He doesn't need to be in the XI straightaway first let him be in the 15, understand the environment and get a feel for international cricket,” Srikkanth said.

In addition to his praise, Srikkanth recalled his own experience from 1989 when he saw a young Sachin Tendulkar for the first time. He suggested that Sooryavanshi could follow a similar path if given the right opportunities.

“When I went as captain in 1989, there was a prodigy a 16 year old Sachin Tendulkar. Today, he's the God of Cricket. Similarly, this boy could well become the next 'demigod' of cricket,” he further added.

When could Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his debut?

Looking ahead, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to make his India debut after the IPL 2026 season. It is important to note that the young Bihar batter could possibly play during the UK tour or the Zimbabwe tour. However, another good opportunity could be the Asian Games or a home series against the West Indies.

Interestingly, since these events might happen at the same time, India might form two separate T20 teams, which could increase his chances of getting selected. Check out the upcoming UK tour schedule to see where Sooryavanshi might feature.

Do you think 15 is too young for an India debut, or is Sooryavanshi truly ready?