New Delhi: All eyes will be on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi when India take on Ireland in the first T20I of the two-match series in Belfast on Friday.The young batsman’s interest has been one of the biggest talking points in world cricket, with fans anxiously waiting to see if he will make his debut for India. If he gets a match, Sooryavanshi will make history by becoming the youngest player to represent India in men’s international cricket.
The amazing ride of Sooryavanshi
Sooryavanshi made his maiden call-up after an impressive IPL 2026 season. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored 776 runs in 16 innings at an astonishing 237. He also smashed 72 sixes, setting a new record for most sixes in a single IPL season.The youngster carried his form to India’s A tri-series in Sri Lanka. In the final one-dayer against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla, he smashed 94 off just 29 balls, showing yet again why he is regarded as one of the best youngsters in the game.
A broken opportunity Sachin Tendulkar history
At 15 years and 71 days, Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to be selected in the Indian senior men’s team, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 36 years.Tendulkar made his international debut in 1989 against Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 205 days. If Sooryavanshi is included in the playing XI against Ireland, he will beat the batting legend to become India’s all-time international cricketer.
‘Words cannot describe’: Sooryavanshi
Speaking after receiving India’s maiden call-up, Sooryavanshi described wearing the Indian jersey as a dream come true.“Words cannot explain. The reason I picked up the bat from day one and went down to do it: that dream has now come true. The biggest part of that journey was completed today. I can’t say these words,” he said in a video shared by the BCCI.The youngster admitted that he was disappointed when he saw the Indian jersey for the first time.“I felt like I was dreaming when I saw the T-shirt; I couldn’t stop smiling. Sometimes things happen that you never thought could happen. In the end, you don’t know how to do it. That’s how I felt,” he added.
Is the wait over in Belfast?
Whether he makes his debut on Friday or later in the series, the excitement around Sooryavanshi is growing. Meanwhile, the big question ahead of the India vs Ireland clash remains the same: Will the 15-year-old get his first India cap?
India vs Ireland T20Is: Groups
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, Vaibhavanshi.Ireland: Lorcan Tucker (captain), Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Stephen Doheny, Matthew Humphreys, Gavin Hoey, Matthew Hollard, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Reuben Wilson.
