IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal has asked the BCCI to move quickly to bring batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into India’s senior men’s setup. The 15-year-old made headlines on Friday by claiming the IPL 2026 Orange Cap after an explosive innings of 78 runs from just 26 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Dhumal said Sooryavanshi’s performances warrant an India debut, describing the youngster as the country’s youngest-ever player. In a post on X, the IPL chief wrote: “What an amazing batting display by Vaibhav Suryavanshi this @IPL 2026 season. This prodigy certainly deserves to debut for Team India @BCCI as the youngest given his performances. It’s rare you get chance to pick up someone so talented and sooooo young too. Certainly deserves his name to be recorded as youngest debutant for India.”
The push from Dhumal comes after former India captain Anil Kumble urged a more careful approach to whether Sooryavanshi should be fast-tracked. Kumble’s message was to avoid rushing the teenager’s development, warning that early hype can create pressure even when a player’s talent is undeniable.
Speaking on a range of topics during an interaction on Friday, Kumble said that while extraordinary skill can make it hard to hold a player back, high expectations can also become a burden for a young athlete. He added: “The player himself probably answers that question,” referring to the ongoing debate about accelerating a player’s rise versus letting them progress steadily.
Kumble pointed to the example of Sachin Tendulkar, noting that the legendary batter made a strong case for selection as a teenager through steady performances in the late 1980s. He then stressed that Sooryavanshi has looked promising and is “doing all the right things,” while also cautioning about the weight of expectations.
“At this point in time, it’s a bit of pressure on a young lad to say, ‘I want you to play for India in two months’ time,” Kumble said.
