English Pundit Wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Team India But 'Who Do You Leave Out'?
English Pundit Wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Team India But 'Who Do You Leave Out'? Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 22:42 IST Nasser Hussain
English Pundit Wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Team India But 'Who Do You Leave Out'? Published By, Last Updated: June 05, 2026, 22:42 IST Nasser Hussain says 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must play for India after a record IPL 2026, with praise from Sachin Tendulkar and selection in the India A squad. Rapid Read Sachin Tendulkar (left) and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AFP/AP) England captain Nasser Hussain believes India can no longer overlook teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He insists the 15-year-old has done enough to earn a place in the national team after a record-breaking Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. In the latest edition of The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Hussain praised the young batter, who lit up the tournament with 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30. His 72 sixes were the most by any batter in a single IPL season. For Hussain, the question of whether Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket has already been answered. “Such an easy answer to give to that is that yes, he has to play. I didn’t watch too much of the IPL, to be honest, but I watched clips of Sooryavanshi, and what an incredible talent," Hussain said. The teenager’s exploits have made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the world.
India head coach Ravi Shastri has already predicted a senior India debut for him, while batting legend Sachin Tendulkar recently praised the youngster’s bat swing and fearless approach. Hussain said Tendulkar’s admiration for Sooryavanshi reminded him of his own first encounter with the Indian great early in his international career. “One of my first games for England was in the Nehru Cup, that’s how long ago it was, and this young lad strode out with pads on that I’d never seen before, and his name was Sachin Tendulkar," Hussain recalled. “And I was in complete awe, and I’ve noticed Sachin putting out some tweets about Sooryavanshi’s bat swing. If you can impress Sachin Tendulkar and impress Virat Kohli and the rest, he’s impressed everyone. What an unbelievable talent." The challenge for India’s selectors is finding a place for Sooryavanshi in a batting line-up already packed with established T20 stars. Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan have all played significant roles at the top of the order in recent years. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has To Play Yet Hussain believes exceptional talent must outweigh selection complications. “So anywhere else in the world, you would say get him in. But usually at the toss, you just have to name 11 players.
In international cricket, who do you leave out for him? “India has a list of batters they could play and should play, but in the end, someone makes a case, a consistent case, and an incredible case for being picked. In the end, you have to say, I don’t care who we’re leaving out, this lad has to play," Hussain said. While backing Sooryavanshi for immediate international opportunities, Hussain noted that the teenager’s toughest examinations still lie ahead. He stressed that the youngster has yet to face extended challenges in unfamiliar overseas conditions or endure the inevitable rough patch that every batter experiences. “And I’m getting to that point where you say this lad has to play because there are other challenges doing it away from home. Doing it against a ball that’s moving, facing a downturn in form, which he’s not had yet, finding a weakness, maybe the short ball, who knows? “But he needs to get through all of that before you get to a world event, and he’s going to be a star. We saw it in the U19 World Cup. We saw what he did to England in the U19 World Cup, to everyone, but England in particular. My word, this lad is a talent, and he has to play," he added.
Sooryavanshi’s rise has not been limited to franchise cricket. Earlier this year, he played a key role in India’s successful Under-19 World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe, delivering a match-winning performance against England in the final and posting the highest score ever recorded in an Under-19 World Cup final. His rapid progress has already brought further recognition, with selectors naming him in the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, starting on June 9. (With inputs from Agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Ritayan Basu Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for over a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket conten... Read More First Published: June 05, 2026, 22:42 IST News cricket English Pundit Wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In Team India But 'Who Do You Leave Out'? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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