New Delhi: All eyes will be on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi when India take on Ireland in the first of the two-match T20I series in Belfast on Friday.The teenage batting sensation has become one of the biggest talking points in world cricket and fans are eagerly awaiting whether he will make his debut in India. If he gets a match, Suryavanshi will create history by becoming the youngest player to represent India in men’s international cricket.
The remarkable rise of Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi received his first call-up to the senior team after an impressive 2026 IPL season. While playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored 776 runs in 16 innings with a staggering strike rate of 237 runs. He also hit 72 sixes, setting a new record for most sixes in a single season in IPL.The youngster carried his form into the India A tri-series in Sri Lanka. In the one-day final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla, he smashed 94 off just 29 balls, once again proving why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in football.
Have a chance to break Sachin Tendulkar records
At the age of 15 years and 71 days, Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever to be selected for the Indian senior men’s team, breaking the record of 36 years held by Sachin Tendulkar.Tendulkar made his debut for the national team in 1989 against Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 205 days. If Suryavanshi is named in the starting XI against Ireland, he will surpass the batting legend to become India’s youngest men’s international cricketer.
‘Words can’t explain it’: Sooryavanshi
Speaking after getting his maiden call-up to the Indian national team, Suryavanshi said donning the Indian jersey was like a dream come true.“Words can’t explain this. The reason I picked up a bat and hit the field from day one is this: This dream is now coming true. The most important step in this journey is completed today.” I really can’t express this feeling in words. ” he said in a video shared by BCCI.The teenager admitted that he was overwhelmed when he saw the India jersey for the first time.“When I saw that T-shirt, I felt like I was in a dream; I couldn’t stop smiling. Sometimes, things you never imagined happen. When it finally happens, you don’t know how to react. That’s exactly how I felt,” he added.
Will Belfast’s wait be over?
Whether he makes his debut on Friday or later in the series, excitement for Sooryavanshi continues to grow. For now, the big question ahead of India’s match against Ireland remains: Can the 15-year-old make his debut for the Indian national team?
India vs Ireland T20Is: Squad
India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Ireland: Lorcan Tucker (captain), Ross Adair, Ben Kallitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Dorney, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoy, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jay Mundra, Harry Turktow, Tim Turktow, Reuben Wilson.
