Former India batter Aakash Chopra says the BCCI selectors should give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi time and avoid rushing him into the senior setup, even after an outstanding IPL 2026 campaign. Sooryavanshi has emerged as the leading run-getter in the tournament and continued to catch the eye with another explosive innings, striking 97 runs from only 29 balls, including 12 sixes. The performance has naturally fuelled speculation about a potential international debut for the 15-year-old in the near future, with some expecting him to be considered for a series against Ireland. Chopra, however, believes that even with his remarkable form, the youngster should not be brought in at the cost of established India players such as Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson.
Chopra stressed that there is still plenty of time before the next World Cup, arguing that selection decisions should not be driven purely by short-term excitement. “We are still two years away from the next World Cup. There will be time. Yes, it’s exciting. It’s something that is there which you cannot possibly ignore because the IPL is India’s best T20 tournament. So if somebody is just breaking records, shattering records, you’ve got to take it seriously, and this kid is special. There’s no doubt about it. But then you just don’t make changes for the sake of making changes because somebody else has done well,” Chopra said on YouTube.
He added that replacing players on the back of form can create an unstable selection culture. “It’s very simple for somebody to go out; you need to fail that exam. If somebody’s a topper already, how can you just replace the topper because you think somebody else will actually get more grades? I mean, he is a topper,” Chopra remarked.
Chopra then made it clear that Samson and Abhishek should not automatically lose their place simply because Sooryavanshi is scoring heavily. He warned that if selectors start making changes only when a new talent is flying, the same logic will eventually apply again in the future. “You’re talking about Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. You’re not replacing them right now because if you were to do that, I can give you in writing, in two or three years, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes through a bad patch, you’re going to follow the same principle,” he said.
According to Chopra, the pressure will only increase as the next generation of prospects comes through, meaning coaches and selectors will face intense scrutiny whenever a young player performs. “The next kid in town, you’ll want to elevate him to this standard. So Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha will face a lot of scrutiny and pressure, but they need to do what is right for Indian cricket, and he represents Indian cricket,” Chopra added.
He concluded by underlining that Sooryavanshi’s inclusion does not have to happen immediately and that there is no reason for a rushed decision. “He’s not Indian cricket. I mean, he is a part of Indian cricket, and I think that fact is not lost on any of the selectors, and they’ll do the right thing, but it doesn’t have to happen tomorrow. It can take time. He’s 20 years ahead of him, so there’s no rush,” said Chopra.
