Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Sachin Tendulkar record to become youngest India international in loss to Jacob Bethell-inspired England in Manchester
Updated 04/07/2026 at 18:14 GMT+1
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has broken Sachin Tendulkar's record to become the youngest India international, making his debut in the second T20I against England on Saturday, but he could not stop his side from slipping to defeat at Old Trafford in Manchester.
‘Just watch the ball’ - Jurel reveals Sooryavanshi’s mantra
Video credit: TNT Sports
The teenager, aged 15 years and 99 days, was not involved in the opening T20 at the Riverside on Wednesday, which was abandoned due to rain.
But Sooryavanshi finally got his chance to face the likes of Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer, and broke a 39-year-old record in the process.
India captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed the change before the game, replacing Sanju Samson as an opener, and insisted that Sooryavanshi has earned his spot in the team and has an "unflinching nature" despite his age.
"I feel that he completely deserves to be in the squad," he said 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.”
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Ahead of the tie, England skipper Brook admitted that "we've done a little bit [of homework]" on Sooryavanshi.
The teenager has broken the record of Tendulkar, who was 16 years and 205 days old when he debuted in a Test match against Pakistan in 1989.
On his debut, Sooryavanshi hit two sixes and scored 14 runs off 10 balls, before being stumped by Buttler off Will Jacks' bowling.
Bethell brilliance propels England
After losing Sooryavanshi in the fifth over, Abhishek Sharma (43), Ishan Kishan (49), Iyer (37) and Tilak Varma (24) lifted India to 190-7 from their 20 overs.
England lost openers Phil Salt and Buttler with only one run on the board, but Brook and Bethell fired their charge.
Brook smashed 39 off 15 balls to set things up, and Bethell led the team home.
England looked slightly off the pace heading into the 17th over, but Ravi Bishnoi twice cut the line to gift a pair of no balls and Bethell dispatched both free hits for six as he took 29 from the over.
Bethell finished unbeaten on 76 from 46 balls, as England got home with six balls to spare to go 1-0 ahead in the series.
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