Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is preparing for a potential fast-track moment in international cricket, with a T20I debut in Ireland on his radar. However, former England captain Michael Vaughan believes the 15-year-old should be considered not just for the Ireland fixtures, but also for India’s subsequent limited-overs tour of England in July, urging the governing body to ensure the youngster is on the flight to the UK.
Vaughan’s push for Sooryavanshi and the India squad timeline
India are set to play five T20 internationals and three ODI matches as the schedule stretches across the coming tour window. While Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee still have time to finalise a 15-man squad, Vaughan has gone public with his view that the teenager deserves a place in the reckoning sooner rather than later.
- Vaughan argues that Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise makes him too important to hold back purely due to age.
- He suggests that if the youngster is already being discussed, India should aim to include him for the England leg in July.
- A final decision, Vaughan stresses, should still be made nearer to the dates—especially with an Ireland debut potentially being the first step.
On the latest episode of the Stick to Cricket podcast, a group of prominent England figures—Vaughan, David Lloyd, Alastair Cook, Alex Hartley, and Phil Tuffnell—linked the conversation to Sooryavanshi’s acceleration through the ranks. The prevailing message from the panel was that many cricket followers would like to see him don the India cap at just 15, and that his inclusion would feel like a natural extension of his momentum.
What the England greats said about the 15-year-old’s impact
The discussion turned into a mix of admiration and light-hearted debate, with the panel members highlighting both his confidence and his readiness to handle top-level pressure.
- Vaughan: He questioned whether Sooryavanshi is even tied to school, saying he expects the youngster to be heading on the T20 trip to Ireland and would like to see him in England’s summer setup.
- Tuffnell: He asked why the teenager shouldn’t be picked, adding that the question itself feels unnecessary given the talent on display.
- Cook: He raised a practical point about whether Sooryavanshi has a passport, underlining that off-field logistics often shape such decisions.
- Vaughan: He responded that age shouldn’t automatically trigger caution, pointing to the reality that a 15-year-old is often treated as “too young” even when his cricketing level demands selection.
- Hartley: She praised the boldness of modern youngsters, describing a fearless approach to big moments and citing how quickly Sooryavanshi can take control once he gets the chance.
- Vaughan: He also compared the youngster’s role to that of a new T20 opener, noting that even at the other end, established batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal can sometimes look “just okay” at times when Sooryavanshi is at his best—before stressing that Sooryavanshi’s output is outstanding.
In the panel’s discussion, the excitement was framed around the idea that Sooryavanshi’s aggressive intent and quick scoring ability could translate immediately to the international stage, rather than requiring a prolonged wait.
IPL form: Orange Cap standings and Kohli’s proximity
The conversation about Sooryavanshi’s next step was also rooted in his current IPL production. If the previous season served as a glimpse, this campaign is being treated as a full breakout—especially given his total of 220 runs, which includes three half-centuries.
- Sooryavanshi has accumulated 220 runs in the season so far.
- His tally includes three scores of fifty-plus.
- He is currently positioned fourth on the Orange Cap list.
- The batters ahead of him are Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Shubman Gill.
- Virat Kohli—who has previously won two Orange Caps—is currently just one run behind Sooryavanshi.
Vaughan and the other legends also referenced Sooryavanshi’s recent T20I-style numbers in their remarks, pointing to a strike rate of 236 and an average of 41 from 246 runs as a snapshot of the form that has brought him to the center of attention.
