Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has praised 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a remarkable talent, urging selectors to include him in India's upcoming white-ball tour of England. Gavaskar, impressed by Sooryavanshi's explosive performance in the IPL,believes the young cricketer is ready for international competition.
Sooryavanshi's recent innings of 97 runs off just 29 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad left Gavaskar in awe. former Indian captain highlighted teenager's fearless batting style,particularly noting straight six he hit off Australian captain Pat Cummins. “2026 will be remembered as Year of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He is ready for T20 International cricket,” Gavaskar stated during an interview .
Gavaskar questioned the rationale behind delaying Sooryavanshi's selection after such impressive IPL campaign. “If you don’t give him a chance after this performance, then when will you?” he asked, emphasizing the need to recognize talent regardless of age.
Despite acknowledging potential selection challenges,Gavaskar expressed confidence in Sooryavanshi's abilities. He remarked that the teenager is already outperforming bowlers with extensive international experience. “Don’t go by his age . At 15,he is taking apart bowlers with 15 years of international experience. Just look at his fearless approach,” he said .
Gavaskar also recognized the competition for top-order spots, mentioning players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. He described the situation as a “happy headache,” indicating that such depth in talent is a positive sign for Indian cricket.
Even if Sooryavanshi does not make the starting XI,Gavaskar believes he should at least be included in squad . “The dressing-room experience alone will be priceless for him,” he noted, underscoring importance of mentorship at this stage in Sooryavanshi's career.
Technical prowess is another aspect Gavaskar highlighted . He pointed out that Sooryavanshi is not merely a power-hitter but possesses refined skills . “When we think of six-hitters, we often think of sloggers. But this kid hits straight sixes over long-on and long-off with perfect technique,” he explained.
Gavaskar further commended Sooryavanshi's confidence against short-pitched bowling and his clean strokeplay. He expressed disappointment that the young player fell short of the fastest IPL hundred record,stating,“Not just me,almost everyone apart from the SRH players were disappointed when he got out on 97.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Gavaskar recalled witnessing Sachin Tendulkar at a similar age but refrained from making direct comparisons. “Sachin had every shot in the book and incredible balance. When I first saw him,I thought he too was God’s gift,” he remarked, acknowledging the advancements in equipment that have made six-hitting more accessible in modern cricket .
In a touching moment,Gavaskar shared an encounter with Sooryavanshi before a match, where the young player showed respect by touching his feet and acknowledging former cricketer Sanjay Bangar. Such gestures reflect the values instilled in Sooryavanshi,further endearing him to the cricketing community.
