BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the new “wonder kid” in Indian cricket and also suggested that the BCCI selectors will do whatever is necessary for the best interest of the Indian cricket team.
His words came after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31, with one century and five fifties in 16 games in IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals. He clinched not only the Orange Cap for most runs but also the Emerging Player and the Most Valuable Player awards, amongst the five awards he won on May 31 after the final.
Sooryavanshi's ultra-aggressive, reckless batting style has possibly revolutionized T20 cricket. He also hammered 72 sixes, breaking Chris Gayle’s record of 59 maximums in a single edition of the IPL.
Though thoughts on whether it would be too soon for him to make the move to international cricket are still varied, it is not surprising that there has been increasing discussion about expediting his integration into the Indian structure.
The U19 World Cup winner has faced bowlers who are twice his age and have far more experience without feeling intimidated, and he has performed admirably against them with incredible poise and confidence.
Calls for his inclusion have further increased as India is scheduled to play two Twenty20 Internationals in Ireland later this month. And even BCCI’s top brass has been impressed with Sooryavanshi’s “exceptional" talent, and secretary Devajit Saikia is expressing confidence that the selection committee will act in the “best interest" of the young prodigy.
“Vaibhav is a new wonder kid in Indian cricket, and I’m sure he will also take the world by storm in the coming days. And all our selectors are part of the IPL tournament. Everybody, all the selectors are watching these matches very closely, and in most cases, they are also present at the venue. So, in the upcoming selection meetings for the Indian team’s UK trip, I’m sure the selectors will do whatever is necessary and is in his best interest, given the way he has performed,” Saikia told Hindustan Times.
“Many other players performed exceedingly well. But Vaibhav is exceptional, and I am very happy that God is kind, that a new wonder kid has been presented to the Indian cricket scene at this stage, and that he will definitely cross the boundaries very soon," he added.
India will play two T20Is in Ireland on June 26 and June 28 and will then play five T20Is in England. And there are expectations that the BCCI might include Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Indian squad for these games.
Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi will appear for India A in the one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving Afghanistan A, starting on June 9.
