'I don't care if he is 15': Former India coach Ravi Shastri strongly backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make India debut

Carrying forward the promise he showcased in the previous edition of the IPL, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the ongoing iteration of the Indian Premier League. With the gift of timing and unbelievable strength to clear the boundary with ease, Sooryavanshi emerged as a massive asset for the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026. Subsequently, he has become a serious contender to enter the India setup.

Is Sooryavanshi ready to make his debut for Team India?

This query has polarising reactions as many believe the selectors should not waste more time waiting and introduce him to the international stage. Whereas some suggest that the 15-year-old should be handled diligently, and an early debut could hamper his confidence if things do not fall in the right place after his debut. Former India coach Ravi Shastri does not agree with the individuals who hold the latter opinion.

Shastri fancies the way Sooryavanshi is batting, the courage he showcases while facing bowlers twice his age. He hinted that, aspects like these cannot be ignored and should be utilised in the best way possible without considering a factor like age.

“A lot of people will ask, is he 15, is he 16, is he 14? I don't care. I just see the way he is batting at the moment and the way he's taking on all comers twice his age or maybe two and a half times his age. It doesn't matter to him," Shastri told host Sanjana Ganesan on the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“So I think he's very, very much in the reckoning. And when you have tours of Ireland [in June for 2 T20Is] and all this happening now, I would be looking into him straight away.

“I can tell you that, for sure, because if you want to encourage or get someone young and into the setup as quickly as possible, then it's the T20 format of the game, and he is not short by any margin.

“This guy can walk into a lot of sides in world cricket at this current moment in time. Just when you look at the exuberance of youth, that youth shows on his face."

Sooryavanshi is a part of the India A squad recently announced for an ODI tri-series, involving hosts Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The series will take place from June 9-21.

Sooryavanshi has amassed 440 runs so far in the IPL 2026 in 11 games at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 236.56.