NEW DELHI: The biggest question ahead of India’s first T20I against Ireland on Friday is whether teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will make his international debut.The 15-year-old has created a huge stir since being named in the Indian squad and fans are eagerly waiting to see if he gets a chance in the two-match series in Belfast.To add to the anticipation, Vaibhav’s parents traveled to Northern Ireland and arrived at Team India’s hotel in Belfast. A video shared on social media showed them entering the hotel, prompting speculation that the youngster could be in line for a memorable debut.
A ‘dream come true’ for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Ahead of the series, Vaibhav spoke about his emotions when he received his India jersey for the first time.“I mean, words can’t explain it. The reason I picked up the bat from day one and went to the cricket field for training, today that dream has been fulfilled and the biggest step in that journey has been completed today. I really can’t express this feeling in words,” Vaibhav said in a BCCI video.The teenager admitted that he struggled to understand the moment when he first saw the India jersey.“It felt like a dream. The moment I saw that shirt, I couldn’t stop laughing. Sometimes something happens that you never imagined could happen, and when it finally does, you don’t know how to react. That’s exactly how I felt,” he added.
Record climb of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav recently became the youngest player ever to be selected for the Indian men’s team, breaking a record that stood for 36 years. The previous record belonged to Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut in 1989 at the age of 16.The rapid rise of the Bihar player has been one of the biggest stories in Indian cricket this year.Just a few days before joining the national team, Vaibhav put in another stunning performance in India A colours. In the final of the tri-series against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on 21 June, he made 94 runs off just 29 balls.During that innings, he reached his half-century in just 11 deliveries, setting a new List A world record for the fastest fifty. The previous mark was Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne’s 12-ball half-century.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: IPL hero for India hopeful
Vaibhav got his first India call-up after a sensational 2026 IPL season for Rajasthan Royals. He finished as the top scorer of the tournament with 776 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30.The youngster also hit a record 72 sixes and swept several major awards, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Rising Player, Super Striker and Super Sixes.With India playing T20I series against Ireland and England in the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the team selection in Belfast. If selected, Vaibhav will take another big step in a journey that has already captured the imagination of cricket fans across the country.
