Sooryavanshi has earned maiden India call-up on the back of a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the cricketing world by storm with his jaw-dropping exploits in the IPL 2026 season. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), he compiled 776 runs in 16 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30.
His campaign featured one hundred and an all-time record of 72 sixes. The 15-year-old made IPL history by sweeping five major individual awards, including the Orange Cap and Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Sooryavanshi’s breakout IPL season has drawn comparisons to generational talents like Sachin Tendulkar, and he was also rewarded with a place in the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming UK tour as well as the 2026 Asian Games.
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has now joined the long list of admirers, hailing Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary talent and backing him to revive Test cricket.
“What I like about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is he has an appetite to score runs and an appetite to dominate. At the same time, he could stay there and play also,” Srikkanth told PTI.
“If he progresses beyond T20 cricket to one-day cricket, and then to Test cricket, and if he clicks in Test cricket, which he will, I am sure then you will see a revival of Test cricket,” he added.
Srikkanth believes the teenage prodigy possesses an unmatched aura capable of attracting audiences.
“You need that kind of cricketer today. People switch on the TV just to watch Sooryavanshi. I switch on the TV to watch Sooryavanshi. That is the aura he has created around himself. And he is something amazing,” he stated.
While Sooryavanshi’s IPL form was fairytale stuff, his transition to the one-day tri-nation A series in Sri Lanka has been a humbling learning curve, posting modest scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38 in four outings for India A.
However, Srikkanth urged the BCCI and fans to grant the youngster a "very long rope", cautioning against excessive technical scrutiny and advice following his underwhelming show on the India A tour.
“In one series, you don't judge a person. Come on. That happens. Poor boy. It doesn't matter. You just give him time. Don't be in a hurry. Vaibhav, don't worry about what people talk about you, just play your natural game,” the former BCCI chief selector said.
“He is a guy who can win matches single-handed. So, I believe that he should be given a very, very, very long rope. And I don't think you should mess up with him. Let's mould him beautifully. If you give him ample chances and if you mould him well, he will be simply outstanding for Indian cricket,” he remarked.
Reacting to comparison with Sachin Tendulkar, Srikkanth shut it down by calling the batting maestro "God of cricket" and referring to Sooryavanshi as the "son of God" to emphasize his unique potential.
“Let's not compare Sachin and Sooryavanshi. Sachin is God of cricket and this boy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, I believe, is the son of God. Let's put it that way. Just leave Sachin alone. Nobody can come near him,” he concluded.