The “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi” buzz is crossing borders fast, and it’s even starting to influence how broadcasters plan their cricket schedules. His call-up to the India A group has drawn attention, with the decision now being made to televise an upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka that will feature India, Afghanistan and the hosts.
India A will be led by Tilak Varma, but it’s the teenage breakthrough of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15, that has turned the spotlight onto the tournament. The youngster recently made headlines in the concluded IPL, where he piled up 776 runs to surge in the Orange Cap race, lifting interest in the tri-series and pushing the organisers to consider wider coverage.
The tri-series is set to run from June 9 to June 21, with broadcasts planned on Sony Sports and Sony LIV. Sony Sports Network holds the broadcast rights for cricket staged in Sri Lanka as the official broadcasting partner of Sri Lanka Cricket, and its officials have indicated that the event will be aired live with comprehensive production.
Sony has not been as visible on the cricket front in recent weeks, with major events like the World Cup and the IPL taking centre stage on the rival Jio Hotstar platform. With Sooryavanshi’s momentum building around the game globally, the network appears keen to capitalise on the current wave of interest. Sony also retains the rights for the India-Sri Lanka bilateral contest, which—per earlier reporting dated May 18—will take place in the second half of August.
Between the bilateral assignment and the tri-series, the Lanka Premier League (LPL) is understood to be scheduled on Jio Hotstar. In a social media update, Sony Network captioned the announcement with: “The Sooryavanshi Express is coming to light up the stage in a high-octane Tri-series.”
The event itself will be a one-day tri-series, to be staged in Dambulla. At the same time, there is still no final word on three additional T20 Internationals that are expected to be added to the two-Test series in the same window. Still, people familiar with the ongoing conversations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) feel approval for a three-match T20I set is likely—though nothing has been formally confirmed yet.
On the India A leadership and squad management front, the BCCI has also announced a change: Ruturaj Gaikwad will step in as vice-captain in place of Riyan Parag, who is currently recovering from an injury.
