Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become India’s youngest-ever international, debuting in Saturday’s T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester at the age of 15 years and 99 days.Sooryavanshi, who did not feature in the abandoned opening T20 at Riverside Ground on Wednesday, breaks the long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar.Tendulkar, also an opening batter, debuted for India aged 16 years and 205 days old in a Test match against Pakistan in 1989.Another member of the squad, Washington Sundar, is currently India’s youngest T20 international debutant having first been capped at 18 years 80 days. Sooryavanshi only turned 15 in March.Sooryavanshi hit 14 off 10 deliveries, including two sixes, but was stumped by Jos Buttler after missing a delivery from Will Jacks.
A historic day for Indian cricket 💙
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi makes his #TeamIndia debut at 1️⃣5️⃣ years, 9⃣9⃣ days 👏#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/qwS2hx4RW8
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2026“I feel that he completely deserves to be in the squad,” India captain Shreyas Iyer said of Sooryavanshi at the toss. “He’s someone who doesn’t take pressure at all. He has an unflinching nature.“He’s very well aware of what’s going to come in these coming matches. The way he bats in the nets and takes on the bowlers, shows what kind of player he is. You see the competition, it’s game after game.“The amount of talent India produces is pleasing to the eye. It keeps us on our toes. Pressure is a privilege I feel.”Sooryavanshi, fresh from an eye-catching first full season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he ended as the tournament’s leading run scorer, has now made it onto the international stage.Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score an IPL century, reaching the landmark off 35 balls, at the age of 14 in April 2025. He followed up those initial brushes with the tournament with an eye-catching 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, hitting a remarkable 72 sixes en route, in this year’s IPL as Rajasthan reached the play-offs.His impact earned him the IPL’s Most Valuable Player award, as well as the emerging player award and the Orange Cap, given to the highest run-scorer.Earlier this year he hit a stunning 175 off just 80 balls, the highest score recorded in men’s or women’s ICC tournament final history at youth or senior level, as India beat England to win the Under-19s World Cup. He will join up with the senior touring squad after participating for India A in a three-team tournament against Sri Lanka Afghanistan from June 9 to 21.Sooryavanshi was selected for the tour of Ireland and England, but he did not feature in either T20I defeat in Belfast.Saturday is the second of a five-match series between hosts England and India.Jul 4, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
