Manchester: Indian cricket witnessed a historic moment on Saturday as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to represent the country in T20 Internationals. The 15-year-old received his maiden India cap ahead of the second T20I against England in Manchester, marking another milestone in his rapid rise.
At the age of 15 years, 3 months and 7 days, the left-handed opener from Bihar became India's youngest T20I debutant and youngest international debutant, surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. His selection follows a breakthrough year that has transformed him from a promising youngster into one of India's most exciting cricketing talents.
Sooryavanshi earned national recognition after a sensational Indian Premier League season with Rajasthan Royals. He scored 776 runs in 16 matches, including a century and five half-centuries, while impressing with his fearless strokeplay against some of the world's best bowlers.
His explosive batting also saw him surpass Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, highlighting his ability to dominate bowling attacks and change the course of a match within a few overs.
The remarkable campaign earned Sooryavanshi another historic achievement as he became the first player in IPL history to win both the Most Valuable Player and Best Emerging Player awards in the same season.
India's chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, had earlier said the teenager's performances made him impossible to overlook. Praising his match-winning ability and composure under pressure, Agarkar said Sooryavanshi had almost single-handedly carried Rajasthan Royals during the latter stages of the tournament and described him as a genuine game-changer with a bright future.
"We've seen what he can do. Towards the playoffs, he almost single-handedly carried the Rajasthan Royals. Not just this season, he had a great start, and to back it up in a competition that is as competitive and high-pressure, he's a game-changer. We've got high hopes of him, and he has picked himself," Agarkar had said while announcing India's squad.
Now wearing the India jersey for the first time, Sooryavanshi begins the next chapter of an already extraordinary journey, with expectations high that the teenage sensation can replicate his domestic and franchise success on the international stage.
With IANS inputs