Former England captain Nasser Hussain and ex-New Zealand pacer Simon Doull discussed the teenage IPL phenomenon Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the ongoing first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s.
In 16 games of IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi amassed 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals, with one century, and five fifties, including 72 sixes. The left-hander received several honors, such as the IPL 2026 Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player of the Tournament, and Orange Cap.
There is rising support for the 15-year-old to play for India in the forthcoming Twenty20 International series against England and Ireland, but it is unclear if the selection committee would opt to throw him into the deep end.
During one of the rain breaks in the Lord’s Test between England and New Zealand, former cricketers Ian Ward, Nasser Hussain, and Simon Doull engaged in a conversation in the commentary box about the Rajasthan Royals kid.
Doull said it was incredible to see Sooryavanshi go about his job, and it will be intriguing to see if the Indian selectors opt to pick him immediately.
Here's how the conversation went:
Ward: “It's extraordinary.”
Hussain: (laughs)
Doull: “He can't be far away. He can't be far away. It's phenomenal, watching that. Leading run-scorer in the tournament. I don't know how many awards he got in the backend of the competition. But it's phenomenal for a 15-year-old kid. It was great to watch. I don't know who they will replace, but they have to find room for him somewhere.”
Sooryavanshi has already been chosen in India A squad for the one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka. As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selection committee meets on Saturday for the Ireland and England tour, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to receive his first senior India call-up.
The BCCI is expected to include him in India's T20I team for the next UK tour, which will include two T20Is against Ireland and five T20Is versus England. The teenage opener would shatter Sachin Tendulkar's record as the youngest player selected for the senior Indian men's team if he is included.
