India has included Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in their T20 squad, marking the 15-year-old prodigy’s debut call-up to the international scene. This decision comes on the heels of Sooryavanshi’s exceptional performances in the domestic league, where he showcased remarkable talent.
In a significant move, selectors have replaced Suryakumar Yadav as captain due to his recent poor form, despite leading the country to World Cup victory just three months ago. Shreyas Iyer, who last featured in a T20 match for India in December 2023, has been appointed as the new skipper for the upcoming series, including two T20 internationals in Ireland, five matches in England, and the Asian Games scheduled for September and October in Japan.
Sooryavanshi gained widespread attention for his outstanding displays in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) while representing Rajasthan Royals. Leading the batting charts with 776 runs, which featured a century and five half-centuries, he was recognized as the IPL’s most valuable player.
As a left-handed opener, Sooryavanshi stands on the cusp of making history by potentially becoming India’s youngest-ever debutant, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at the age of 16 years and 205 days in 1989.
The decision to change the captaincy was anticipated following Suryakumar’s struggles with the bat during the World Cup and IPL campaigns. In the World Cup, he managed to score only 242 runs in nine innings, with his unbeaten 84 against the United States being his sole notable contribution.