NEW DELHI: Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise should now be rewarded with an India T20I cap, according to former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi, who believes the 15-year-old has already shown qualities that could one day make him a nightmare for Test bowlers as well.Fresh from a stunning IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi is poised to become the youngest player in an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar‘s debut in 1989. The left-handed opener amassed 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30 after earlier being named Player of the Tournament in India’s triumphant U19 World Cup campaign.“I think the way to handle him is reward him with an India cap because the way he’s performed in the last two years — he’s hitting all the top bowlers of the world,” Gandhi told IANS.‘He can shift gears, which is alarming for world cricket’While Sooryavanshi’s power-hitting has captured global attention, Gandhi was equally impressed by the youngster’s ability to adapt to different match situations.“What was heartening for me to see is that in his last two knocks, he got 29-ball 97 (in Eliminator) and then 96 in Qualifier 2, but in different circumstances. There were wickets falling from the other end. He was rotating the strike,” Gandhi said. “So, if required, he can shift gears, which is more alarming for world cricket, right?”“A boy who is so mature that he can even take singles, play the situation, yet maintain a strike rate of 200-plus. So, for me, he has ticked all the boxes,” he added.Gandhi, however, feels there is still room for improvement, particularly in fielding, and stressed the importance of exposing Sooryavanshi to 50-over and red-ball cricket through India A assignments.‘Test bowlers will have heart attacks’The former selector allowed himself to dream about the teenager’s potential in the longest format.“A player of that calibre definitely needs to be groomed and counselled. Can you imagine him playing Test matches with the same authority? Even half of it will be such a delight to watch,” he said. “It will be the bowlers who will be having heart attacks. They must be wondering how to stop this boy. He is absolutely marvellous.”“He is taking all the bowlers to the cleaners, whether it is spinners or fast bowlers. The authority with which he is batting is really pleasing to me. We are running out of adjectives and superlatives to describe him. He is simply mind-boggling,” he further added.
