NEW DELHI: The wait is over. Young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history on Saturday by becoming the youngest player to represent India.The 15-year-old received his first cap for India from Tilak Verma in the second T20I against England at the Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Saturday. In doing so, Sooryavanshi broke the previous record held by batting great Sachin Tendulkar, who launched India against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days.
The award of the dream IPL season
Sooryavanshi earned a place in the national team after an impressive campaign in IPL 2026. He finished as IPL 2026 as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs at an amazing rate of 230. He also received the Most Valuable Player and Emerging Player award.
Sooryavanshi is climbing fast
Born in Tajpur in Bihar’s Samastipur district in 2011, Sooryavanshi made his first-class debut in 2024 at the age of just 12 years and 284 days. Later that year, he was selected in India’s Under-19 team and impressed with a 58-year-old in the Youth Test against Australia.A few months later, Rajasthan Royals signed him for Rs 1.10 crore in the IPL market, making him the youngest player in the history of the competition to receive 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 showed himself in style by hitting Shardul Thakur for a six off the first ball he faced.Nine days later, he became the youngest captain in IPL history after smashing a 35-ball 100 against Gujarat Titans. The knock was five times less than Chris Gayle’s IPL record for the fastest run.After scoring 252 runs in his first IPL season, Sooryavanshi took his game to the next 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 most sixes in a single IPL season while helping Rajasthan Royals reach the playoffs.
Before the World Cup started in India
Even before his record-breaking IPL season, Sooryavanshi had already made an impact across the world.In February, he played 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 match and helped India seal a massive 100. He was named Player of the Series.After his IPL heroics, Sooryavanshi was selected for the India A team in the tri-series. He scored 211 runs in five matches at an average of 42.20 and a stunning strike of 200.95, including 94 off 29 balls in the last over, which helped India clinch the title with a 66-run victory.