The calls for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his Indian debut are getting stronger due to his incredible rise in the last few months, but already. BCCI selector Saba Karim believes that the team managers should be patient with what the youngsters feel.Sooryavanshi earned a place in India’s senior T20I squad after an impressive IPL 2026 campaign in which he amassed a record 776 runs. If selected, he will become India’s youngest ever cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar. However, despite increasing calls from fans and former cricketers to speed up his game, Karim feels there is no need to change the regular batting line-up.Speaking on Star Sports’ show Follow the Blues, Karim defended Sanju Samson‘s position in the side, pointing to the batsman-wicketkeeper-batsman’s recent development in India.“I don’t think so at the moment. Sanju Samson is an amazing player. He has been a match winner. He had a great IPL season. Before that, he was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. What are we looking at? Sanju Samson might be thinking, ‘Why is everyone pointing guns at me?’ “Saba said.Karim also emphasized that just being among the seniors of this country at the age of 15 is very important for Sooryavanshi and the opportunity to improve his career abroad.“Even for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, this is a good way to learn. He also understands that to get into the Indian XI team, you have to get your call. This environment will help him grow as a player and as a person. Although he has amazing skills, when you enter such a tournament, you have to increase your time,” he said.Former Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujarawho was also part of the discussion, shared similar sentiments, describing Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the national team as a great achievement in itself.“This is a big opportunity for him. He may not have got a chance in the playing XI, but he is part of the Indian team. It is a big thing if you are in the 15-man squad, and it is time for him to fulfill his dream. When he gets a chance in the playing XI, it will be a bigger moment than that,” said Pujara.“He has to wait for his chance. It is very exciting for Vaibhav Suryavanshi that he is part of the team. He gets to train with the players and be in a place where great cricketers and coaches are around him to learn from. He is a special talent, but he has to wait a little bit for that opportunity.”India is currently touring England for five T20Is. The opening match in Durham was abandoned after rain disrupted play after the first kick-off, while the second T20I is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
