Former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi believes teen batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is at a stage where an India T20I cap could be the next step, pointing to the impact he has made in recent seasons and suggesting his temperament could translate even to the Test arena.
Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise and why Gandhi backs a call-up
- Gandhi argued that Sooryavanshi’s performances over the last two years warrant recognition at the international level, saying the youngster has been striking the best bowlers consistently.
- He noted that Sooryavanshi is coming off a standout IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, reinforcing the idea that the form shown domestically is ready-made for higher challenges.
- After being named Player of the Tournament during India’s successful U19 World Cup run, the left-handed opener then went on to pile up 776 runs in the IPL at a strike rate of 237.30.
- Gandhi added that the teenager’s profile could make him the youngest member of an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar’s debut back in 1989.
While power-hitting has been the headline, Gandhi said what excites him just as much is the ability to adjust to match situations. In his view, Sooryavanshi’s recent innings showed he could accelerate or regulate as required, even when wickets were tumbling from the other end.
Adapting under pressure: the innings Gandhi highlighted
- Gandhi pointed to Sooryavanshi’s ability to shift gears, highlighting a 29-ball 97 in the Eliminator.
- He also referenced a 96 in Qualifier 2, stressing that the context of each knock was different while the strike management remained impressive.
- For Gandhi, the key takeaway was that the opener was rotating strike effectively, ensuring the innings kept moving even as the pressure of wickets increased.
- He summed it up by saying that maintaining a strike rate above 200 while remaining capable of taking singles and playing the situation is a rare combination.
Gandhi concluded that, in his eyes, Sooryavanshi has “ticked all the boxes” already, but he also believes the journey is not finished yet—especially in the area of fielding.
What still needs work and the pathway Gandhi suggests
Despite his praise, the former selector felt Sooryavanshi can improve his all-round game, with fielding singled out as an area to develop further. He also urged that the teenager should be tested in 50-over cricket and red-ball matches through India A assignments, arguing that exposure in those formats will help round out his skills before he fully settles into international demands.
Test cricket potential: “bowlers will have heart attacks”
Looking further ahead, Gandhi said a batter of Sooryavanshi’s calibre requires proper grooming and guidance for the longest format. He suggested that the prospect of the teenager bringing the same authority to Test cricket would be a thrill for fans.
Gandhi’s imagination went even further: he predicted that Test bowlers would struggle to find answers to a batter capable of overwhelming both pace and spin. In his words, Sooryavanshi is taking bowlers “to the cleaners,” and the confidence and control shown in his batting have been so convincing that he said he is running out of superlatives to describe him.
