South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host the 2027 ICC World Cup.
Sooryavanshi became the youngest Indian to make his international cricket debut when he was named in India’s XI for the second T20I between England and India in Manchester on July 4. He broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record that stood for 36 years, when the little master made his India debut in 1989.
Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up thanks to excellent IPL seasons with Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 252 runs in 7 games in IPL 2025, in his debut year, and then rocked the IPL 2026 with 776 runs in 16 games with one century and five fifties at a strike rate of 237.30.
He also made 175 in the final of the ICC Youth World Cup, helping India become U19 World Champions, and recently scored 94 in 29 balls to help India A defeat Sri Lanka A in the 50-over tri-series final.
Sivaramakrishnan believes that selectors should look beyond the shortest format and urges team management to provide Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continuous opportunity in both T20Is and one-day internationals.
"He sure should get a chance at the upcoming 50-over World Cup if he does exceedingly well in the T20 format. He should get an opportunity because he's going to be a match winner. When he scores runs, he's going to be a match-winner in all formats of white-ball cricket,” Sivaramakrishnan told PTI.
Sooryavanshi has a decent record in List A cricket with 564 runs in 13 games, with one century and a strike rate of 176.80. In 35 T20s, he has 1491 runs with 4 centuries and 6 fifties, with a strike rate of 219.26 and a best score of 144.
Sivaramakrishnan asked the Indian team management, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, to strongly support the youngster and give him a long leash, despite his initial mistakes.
"He should be given a fair number of chances with white ball cricket and see how he performs. He should continue. I mean, there's no point in blooding a youngster and giving him a break or resting him. He doesn't need rest. He can keep playing right throughout the year.
Especially as a batter, he doesn't need a bowler's fitness. And batting for long periods of time will also give him that concentration, the mental work that he can do for long periods of time,” Sivaramakrishnan stated.
"Once you decide to play him, you have got to give him ample opportunities. Remember, he is an investment for the next 20 years. I think what Vaibhav needs now is a lot of support from the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and the captain (Shreyas Iyer) and the rest of the players. Even if he does not do well in a few games, he should be backed. He should be continued,” he concluded.
The 2027 ICC World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from 4 October to 21 November 2027.
(PTI inputs)