NEW DELHI: The wait is finally over. Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made history on Saturday by becoming the youngest player ever 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 IPL season
Sooryavanshi earned his place in the national team after a sensational IPL 2026 campaign. He finished as the IPL 2026 as 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 only 12 years and 284 days old. Later that year, he was picked 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 at the IPL auction, making him the youngest player in the tournament’s history to earn an IPL contract at just 13 years of age.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 off the very first ball he faced.Just nine days later, he became the youngest centurion in IPL history after smashing a 35-ball hundred against Gujarat Titans. The knock was only five deliveries slower than Chris Gayle’s record-fastest IPL century.After scoring 252 runs in his debut IPL season, Sooryavanshi took 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 in the same season. He scored 776 runs in 16 matches, including a record 72 sixes, breaking Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in a single IPL season while helping Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs.
World Cup hero before India debut
Even before his record-breaking IPL season, Sooryavanshi had already made a big impact on the international stage.In February, he starred in India’s triumph over England in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final. He smashed 175 off just 80 balls in the title clash and helped India seal a massive 100-run victory. He was adjudged 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 a blistering 94 off just 29 balls in the final, helping India clinch the title with a 66-run victory.