Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s whirlwind knock of 97 runs off just 29 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator has taken social media by storm, with many fans calling for an immediate India debut. Yet former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra struck a more measured note, arguing that the teenage prodigy still has ample time to develop and make the step up when the moment is right.<\/p>\n
Rajasthan Royals sealed their place in Qualifier 2 with a dominant 47-run win over SRH, a result built on Sooryavanshi\u2019s sensational innings that helped them post a massive 243\/8. In the chase, Sunrisers Hyderabad were dismissed for 196, with Jofra Archer spearheading the bowling effort impressively during the powerplay.<\/p>\n
While appearing on Star Sports\u2019 JioStar show, Chopra acknowledged the 15-year-old\u2019s exceptional ability and talent, but stressed that timing matters when it comes to national selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are still two years away from the next World Cup. There is plenty of time. Yes, it\u2019s an exciting thought to consider Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India based on what he has shown in the IPL. You can\u2019t ignore what he\u2019s doing because the IPL is India\u2019s biggest T20 competition, and he\u2019s breaking records everywhere,\u201d Chopra said.<\/p>\n
He added that recognition should not automatically translate into instant changes in the national setup. \u201cYou have to take him seriously. He is special, without any doubt. But you don\u2019t make adjustments just for the sake of it. For someone to come in, someone else has to fall out first. If players are already delivering consistently, why would you swap them out simply because a youngster has scored heavily?\u201d Chopra explained.<\/p>\n
Chopra also pointed to the current Indian team\u2019s batting rhythm, noting that established performers should not be displaced prematurely. \u201cRight now, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are among the leading performers. You don\u2019t replace them immediately. Otherwise, in two or three years, if Vaibhav hits a quiet stretch, another young player will be pushed forward in the same manner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Addressing the pressure on selectors, Chopra noted the potential scrutiny faced by Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha. \u201cThe selectors\u2014Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha\u2014will definitely feel the pressure, but they have to focus on what is best for Indian cricket. They will take the right call. Vaibhav\u2019s India debut doesn\u2019t have to happen tomorrow. He is only 15 years old. There is absolutely no rush,\u201d Chopra concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s whirlwind knock of 97 runs off just 29 deliveries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator has taken social media by storm,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":12786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Aakash Chopra on Vaibhav 97 vs SRH: IPL Patience","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s 97 vs SRH sparks debut talk, but Aakash Chopra urges patience, saying the teenage star will step up when the time is right.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n