New Delhi, May 17: Former captain and coach of the Indian cricket team, Ravi Shastri, has expressed strong support for left-handed explosive batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi, stating that he is fully prepared to play at the international level. Shastri urges selectors to include Vaibhav in the Indian T20 team as soon as possible.
Speaking on ‘The ICC Review’, Shastri remarked, “It is impossible to overlook how fearlessly Vaibhav plays against experienced bowlers in the IPL.”
The former coach emphasized, “If you want to encourage a young player or bring him into the team quickly, the T20 format is the best option. Vaibhav is certainly not lagging behind. At this moment, he could easily find a place in many cricket teams around the world. His energy is evident on his face.”
Shastri noted that the upcoming series against Ireland could serve as an excellent platform to introduce Suryavanshi to international cricket. If selected, he would become the youngest player to debut for India.
“There will be many who will question his age, whether he is 15, 16, or 14. I don’t care about that. I only focus on how he is batting right now and how he faces players who are double or even two and a half times his age. I believe he is strongly in the race for a spot on the team. I will keep an eye on Vaibhav during the selection for the Ireland tour and other upcoming tours,” Shastri added.
Recently, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was included in the India A team, which is set to play a triangular series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. Following Shastri’s endorsement, discussions about his inclusion in the senior team for the Ireland series are likely to intensify.
Suryavanshi made his debut for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025 and has impressed cricket fans worldwide with his charismatic and explosive batting at every level. In IPL 2026, he has emerged as a key match-winner for RR. The 15-year-old has scored 440 runs in 11 innings at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 236.56.
His performance includes one century and two half-centuries, with the century coming off just 36 balls. He has hit 38 fours and 40 sixes this season. Vaibhav ranks ninth among the top 15 run-scorers in IPL 2026, but boasts the highest strike rate. Following this outstanding performance, calls for his inclusion in the Indian T20 team are growing.
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