NEW DELHI: The wait is over. Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history on Saturday by becoming the youngest player to represent India.The 15-year-old received his maiden India cap from Tilak Verma ahead of the second T20I against England at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. In doing so, Sooryavanshi broke the long-standing record held by batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who made his India debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days.
Reward for a dream season in IPL
Sooryavanshi earned his place in the national team after a sensational campaign in IPL 2026. He finished as IPL 2026 as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 230. He also bagged the Most Valuable Player and Emerging Player awards.
Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise
Born in Tajpur in Bihar’s Samastipur district in 2011, Sooryavanshi made his first-class debut in 2024 when he was 12 years and 284 days old. Later that year, he was selected in India’s Under-19 squad and grabbed attention with a 58-ball century in a Youth Test against Australia.A few months later, Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.10 crore in the IPL auction, making him the youngest player in the history of the tournament to get an IPL contract at the age of just 13.Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals at the age of 14 years and 23 days against Lucknow Super Giants and announced himself in style by hitting Shardul Thakur for a six in the very first ball he faced.Just nine days later, he became the youngest centurion in IPL history after hitting a 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans. The knock was just five deliveries slower than Chris Gayle’s record-fastest IPL century.After scoring 252 runs in his debut IPL season, Sooryavanshi has taken his game to another level in IPL 2026.He became the first player in IPL history to win the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player and Emerging Player awards at the same time. He scored 776 runs in 16 matches, including a record 72 sixes, breaking Chris Gayle’s record of most sixes in an IPL season while helping Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs.
World Cup hero before India debut
Even before his record-breaking season in the IPL, Sooryavanshi had already made a huge impact on the international stage.In February, he starred in India’s victory over England in the final of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He smashed 175 off just 80 balls in the title clash and helped India seal a massive 100-run victory. He was adjudged the Player of the Series.After his IPL heroics, Sooryavanshi was selected for the India A squad for the tri-series. He scored 211 runs in five matches at an average of 42.20 and a stunning strike rate of 200.95, including 94 runs in just 29 balls in the final, helping India clinch the title with a 66-run victory.