Who is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? 15-year-old India sensation set to break Sachin Tendulkar record in T20I series as Ireland aim to 'spoil the party'
Updated 25/06/2026 at 18:48 GMT+1
React to this story
Who is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? We look at the 15-year-old India batting sensation who is set to break a record held by legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar in the upcoming two-match T20I series with Ireland.
‘Just watch the ball’ - Jurel reveals Sooryavanshi’s mantra
Video credit: TNT Sports
Winning the Indian Premier League MVP award. Beating Chris Gayle's sixes record. Scoring the most runs.
These are accolades even the finest limited-overs batters may never attain, let alone in one season.
But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has done all three in 2026 alone, aged just 15.
In the same competition, he hit the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins around the ground, and earlier this month smashed a 50 for India A off just 11 balls.
It is therefore little surprise that the India sensation is one of the most talked about prodigies, not just in world cricket, but in world sport.
When you try to think of someone who has done comparable things at such a precocious age, you are drawn to some luminary names.
Pele. Boris Becker. Lamine Yamal.
And for the first time, Sooryavanshi is set to pull on a senior India shirt this Friday, June 26 at The Stormont Cricket Ground, with India in Belfast to play two T20 internationals against Ireland, live in the UK on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Should Sooryavanshi make his debut, the 15-year-old will break a record set by the great Sachin Tendulkar as the youngest player to play for India, and indeed the youngest player - among ICC full member countries - to play a T20 international full stop.
Australia skipper Cummins is among his many admirers. "I think he's my new favourite player," Cummins said having come up against the wonderkid in the IPL.
"He hits the ball so hard, it's great to watch, it's good fun. You've got to be right on the money as a bowler, because if you're not it's going a long way.
"He's impressive, he's had a great start to his career and I like the way he plays."
Some wonder how on earth Sooryavanshi has done so much at such a young age, but it seems the method is just confidence and simplicity.
Rajasthan Royals team-mate Dhruv Jurel said: ”The best thing about Vaibhav, which I noticed, is he doesn't plan anything because he's practised a lot and he always backs himself.
"That's what he does every time when he's goes out and play. So the best thing about himself is he backs himself and he doesn't have that shadow of doubt that ‘I'm not able to do it’".
He added: "Really he just watches the ball, that's all. His mantra is I don't give a damn about any bowler, I just want to play the ball, that's all.”
Sooryavanshi has breezed through every new step of his career so far, and the world now waits to see a first glimpse of what he will bring to the international game.
- 'Exciting addition' Coles named in England squad for T20I series against India
- McCullum recalls 'good friend' Stokes for decisive third New Zealand Test
Lorcan Tucker, Ireland's new permanent T20 captain, said he hoped his side could "spoil the party" for Sooryavanshi, who he described as "an absolutely incredible talent".
”It’s pretty incredible for them to have a 15-year-old in their team," Tucker said via the Irish Examiner. "I didn’t think that was ever going to be possible in this professional era.
”Credit to him, he’s a pretty special player. We’re hoping we’ll see him this week. It will be a big moment for him, but it would be great to spoil that party for him.
”Most of the hype here has been about him making his debut in this series. He’s obviously an absolutely incredible talent, he blew the IPL up, and we’ve tried to do as much research as we can on him.”
Series schedule
| Fixture | Date and time | Location |
| Ireland v India 1st T20I | Fri 26 Jun, 13:30 | Stormont, Belfast |
| Ireland v India 2nd T20I | Sun 28 Jun, 13:30 | Stormont, Belfast |
How to watch Ireland v India on TNT Sports and HBO Max
The two-match T20I series between Ireland and India will be shown live on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK.
Both games will be played at The Stormont Cricket Ground in Belfast, with the first match beginning at 13:30 on Friday, June 26, with coverage starting on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max from 13:15.
The second match will be played two days later at the same venue on Sunday, June 28, with coverage starting on TNT Sports 4 and HBO Max from 13:15, and the match beginning at 13:30.
For the latest information on the dates and timings of cricket matches on TNT Sports and HBO Max, click here.
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement