Sooryavanshi has strengtended his claims for India selection after stunning exploits in the IPL 2026.
Along the way, the teenage prodigy shattered major milestones. At just 15 years and 65 days, he set a new IPL record as the youngest Orange Cap winner.
The southpaw became the fastest player in history to score 1000 IPL runs in terms of balls faced (440 balls) and the first to smash 500 powerplay runs in a single edition. He also broke Chris Gayle's long-standing record for most sixes in an IPL season (59 sixes set in 2012) by hammering 72 sixes across 16 matches.
As a result, Sooryavanshi swept five major honors at the post-tournament awards ceremony, being named the Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Orange Cap winner, and Super Sixes of the Season.
Following his unprecedented dominance in the IPL, calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the senior Indian T20I team has grown louder. However, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Sooryavanshi could wait for his chance.
Ashwin’s suggestion comes ahead of the selection for India’s T20I squads for the upcoming UK tour and the 2026 Asian Games.
"He (Vaibhav) can be given a chance. If you are forming two teams, Vaibhav should definitely be in the second team. But I have another question for you, and for our audience watching - it's the same question for everyone. If there is no vacancy in the team, how can you accommodate him?" Ashwin said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
"If I were a selector, I would tell Vaibhav directly that I have never seen a player like him. You are special. I am a fan of your talent.
"I am a fan, but in our class, in our school, there are no seats available. There is no admission in our school for you right now. Please don't go to any other school; just wait outside. If even one opportunity arises, if there is a vacancy, I will give you the seat. Keep this in mind - however big a player you are, the team comes first. The team is for the players; the players are not for the team," he explained.
According to reports, Sooryavanshi has reportedly been included in India's 30-member probables list for the 2026 Asian Games.
When India’s squads for the one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan Tests were announced last month, chief selector Agarkar had acknowledged Sooryavanshi brilliance, but cited that several players were ahead of him in the pecking order.
“We picked him for the India A team because he is young and immensely promising. The idea is to give these youngsters exposure. Yashasvi Jaiswal is already part of the ODI set-up as well. As impressive as Sooryavanshi has been, there are others who have performed strongly too. We are very excited about him and hopefully he can showcase his talent when he travels with the A team,” Agarkar had said.
Subsequently, the BCCI selection committee picked Sooryavanshi in the India A squad for the 50-over matches against Sri Lanka later this month.