NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s extraordinary IPL 2026 run has ignited a fresh discussion about whether the 15-year-old batting sensation from Bihar should be moved up to India\u2019s senior T20I setup sooner rather than later. Hailing from Samastipur, the teenager electrified the tournament by piling up 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.31, while also rewriting the record books by smashing 72 sixes. His performances earned him the Orange Cap and the tournament\u2019s Most Valuable Player award.<\/p>\n
With Sooryavanshi already included in the India A squad on a tour of Sri Lanka, the pressure for his elevation to India\u2019s next T20I assignment has intensified. India are set to play two T20Is in Ireland, beginning on June 26, with Ireland scheduled as the opponent later this month. Several former players have voiced support for an immediate promotion to the senior team.<\/p>\n
However, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes India should approach the decision with caution. He argued that Sooryavanshi could be considered after the current options in the lineup. \u201cVaibhav would be next in line after the incumbent players, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. But I\u2019d like to see Vaibhav face conditions similar to those in the IPL, if he is picked for India at all,\u201d Manjrekar said.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar also suggested it may be too soon to throw the teenager into demanding overseas conditions. \u201cPutting him straight into foreign conditions\u2014overseas pitches like New Zealand or South Africa\u2014might not be a great idea. He could go there and end up replicating what he has done in the IPL, but it\u2019s a tough call when you look at the contenders. Whether Gill is ahead or whether it\u2019s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, it\u2019s difficult to decide. Let it happen naturally and see how it goes,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The former cricketer pointed out how quickly perceptions can shift in T20 cricket. \u201cA few months and things changed. Nobody was talking about Abhishek Sharma,\u201d he remarked, highlighting the volatility of the format and selection narratives.<\/p>\n
While Manjrekar admitted being impressed by Sooryavanshi\u2019s power-hitting, he stressed that the youngster\u2019s long-term path should be shaped by his own goals rather than public expectations. \u201cIf he wants to be known as a T20 sensation and focus on T20 cricket, then fine. That shouldn\u2019t be held against him. But then you\u2019re only going to be judged as a T20 phenomenal player. He also plays 50-over cricket, and there\u2019s real value in certain conditions where he can bat in the first 10 overs and do what Rohit Sharma did in the 2023 World Cup. Even better than Rohit,\u201d Manjrekar said.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar further highlighted specific elements of Sooryavanshi\u2019s game that stood out during his breakout season. \u201cFor me, the challenge in predicting a player\u2019s future is that you only see the potential. What I take from his performances is truly exceptional for someone so young. He has clear hitting ability, excellent ball sense, and the range you can see\u2014he\u2019s able to strike the ball all around the park,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He was particularly drawn to the youngster\u2019s fearless mindset and his habit of putting the team\u2019s needs ahead of personal landmarks. \u201cThree times he got out in the nineties. That tells you he doesn\u2019t worry about reaching a hundred, and every time he has gone for the big shots. That\u2019s what you like\u2014if someone is selfless and doesn\u2019t obsess over milestones, they won\u2019t waste too many balls,\u201d Manjrekar observed.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar also noted Sooryavanshi\u2019s ability to read match situations and adjust accordingly. \u201cEven in that final playoff game, you could see him tone down his batting a little because Rajasthan Royals were losing wickets. There are a lot of things to appreciate about his approach,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
For the moment, Manjrekar believes cricket fans should enjoy Sooryavanshi\u2019s rise without rushing to make long-range judgments about his ceiling or trajectory. \u201cWhat I can say with certainty at this stage is that he had a phenomenal IPL season\u2014tremendous batting, strong consistency, and big scores. For someone so young, well done. I\u2019m sure he must have been the most dangerous batter this season for any opposition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Manjrekar concluded by urging patience as Sooryavanshi\u2019s story develops. \u201cI\u2019m just going to stop there and see how this chapter unfolds going forward,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s extraordinary IPL 2026 run has ignited a fresh discussion about whether the 15-year-old batting sensation from Bihar should be moved up…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13844,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: Manjrekar Cautions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi T20I","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"IPL 2026 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shines with 776 runs, but Manjrekar urges caution on an early T20I call-up\u2014read the latest debate.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n