Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 14-year-old Bihar cricketer, has received huge backing from Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor, who stated that he should play for India soon. Tharoor even called Vaibhav a prodigy similar to Sachin Tendulkar when he was of the same age.
This came after Sooryavanshi gave a fiery start to Bihar’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 tournament. Playing against Arunachal Pradesh, Sooryavanshi hammered 190 runs in just 84 balls with 16 fours and 15 sixes to his name.
He was in amazing form, as his century came off just 36 balls, and he became the youngest to score a century in List-A cricket. Bihar, thanks to Sooryavanshi and centuries by Ayush Loharuka (118) and Captain Sakibul Gani (128* in 40 balls), posted the highest List-A team total of 574/6 in 50 overs.
Arunachal Pradesh was bowled out for 177 runs thanks to three wickets each by Akash Raj and Suraj Kashyap. Bihar won the game by a record 397 runs. Sooryavanshi was named the Player of the Match for his record score.
The knock astounded fans, analysts, and fellow professionals, with many describing it as one of the most remarkable domestic efforts by a teenager in Indian cricket.
Shashi Tharoor, a longtime sports fan, was among those who were impressed. Drawing a daring parallel, Tharoor claimed that Indian cricket could be witnessing something truly unique.
Recalling Sachin Tendulkar's international debut at the age of 16, Tharoor wrote on X that Tendulkar was the only 14-year-old to demonstrate such remarkable potential and questioned what selectors were looking for.
He posted: "The last time a fourteen year old showed such prodigious cricketing talent, it was Sachin Tendulkar — and we all know what became of him. What are waiting for? VaibhavSuryavanshi for India!"
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had copped some criticism for his failure to score in crucial matches in the recent U19 Asia Cup, where he fizzled out after scoring 171 against UAE in India’s tournament opener. He made 5, 50, 9, and 26 in the remainder of the matches in the tournament, where India lost to Pakistan in the final.
Sooryavanshi has been retained by Rajasthan Royals for the IPL 2026, and if he continues his terrific form, he might very well break down the doors for the Indian team.
