Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed his belief that India should consider including 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the national team. Sooryavanshi’s exceptional performance in the 2026 Indian Premier League, where he scored 776 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 237.30, has caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Hussain, in an interview with Sanjana Ganesan for The ICC Review, commended Sooryavanshi’s talent, emphasizing the youngster’s remarkable achievement of hitting 72 sixes during the IPL season, the highest by any player in a single season. The former England skipper firmly believes that Sooryavanshi is ready for the international stage, stating, “Such an easy answer to give to that is that yes, he has to play.”
Sooryavanshi’s stellar performances have made him a rising star in global cricket circles. Former India coach Ravi Shastri has already predicted a senior India debut for the young cricketer, while batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has lauded his batting technique and fearless approach.
Hussain drew parallels between Tendulkar’s admiration for Sooryavanshi and his own awe-inspiring encounter with the Indian maestro early in his career. Reflecting on Tendulkar’s tweets praising Sooryavanshi’s batting prowess, Hussain highlighted the universal acclaim the young talent has garnered, including from top players like Virat Kohli.
Despite Sooryavanshi’s undeniable potential, India’s selectors face a challenge in accommodating him in a team already packed with established T20 stars like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. Hussain, however, advocates for recognizing exceptional talent, asserting that deserving players should not be overlooked due to selection dilemmas.
While Hussain supports Sooryavanshi’s immediate inclusion in the national team, he acknowledges that the young cricketer will face tougher challenges ahead, such as performing in unfamiliar overseas conditions and overcoming inevitable rough patches in form. The former England captain emphasized the importance of Sooryavanshi proving himself in various scenarios before becoming a consistent performer in world events.
Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise extends beyond franchise cricket, with his standout performances in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year earning him a spot in the India A squad for an upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. His remarkable journey from the U19 World Cup success to the IPL limelight underscores his potential as a future star in Indian cricket.
