Mumbai, June 8: South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has expressed his support for 15-year-old batsman Vaibhav Suryaanshi’s selection in the Indian national team. De Villiers believes that despite his young age, Suryaanshi has demonstrated exceptional performance worthy of a chance at the highest level.
Following an impressive IPL 2026 season, Suryaanshi has been selected for the Indian team for the first time. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals, this left-handed opener scored a remarkable 776 runs in the tournament, including one century and five half-centuries. He was also named the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the season.
At an event, de Villiers highlighted that it would have been easier for selectors to overlook the 15-year-old in favor of a more experienced player. However, he felt that Suryaanshi’s performance made it impossible to ignore him.
De Villiers stated, “It’s easy to say he is too young and not ready, choosing a more experienced player instead. He has proven his capability. He deserves his place in India’s T20 team, and I am happy for him.”
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson also praised the young player, emphasizing his powerful hitting ability and fearless batting style.
When asked which qualities he would like to adopt from current Indian cricketers, Watson immediately mentioned Suryaanshi, pointing out his ability to hit boundaries all around the ground. “First and foremost, Vaibhav Suryaanshi, because he has the power to hit shots all over the field—not just straight or on the leg side, but also on the off-side,” he said.
Watson appeared even more impressed by Suryaanshi’s mindset, noting that his fearlessness is a significant asset. “Vaibhav’s fearless thinking is also impressive. He has no fear of getting out, whereas I struggled with that for a large part of my career.”
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