Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become a major asset for India, saying the 15-year-old should be considered for next year's ODI World Cup if he continues to perform impressively. Sooryavanshi made his T20I debut against England at Old Trafford on Saturday, becoming the youngest player to represent India in international cricket.
Sivaramakrishnan believes the selectors should look beyond the T20 format and provide the youngster with regular opportunities in both T20Is and One-Day Internationals.
Making his international debut, Sooryavanshi offered a glimpse of his immense potential with a quickfire 14 off nine deliveries. Facing England pacers Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, the teenager struck a six off each bowler before eventually being stumped.
His debut came after growing calls for his inclusion. India had left him out of the two T20Is against Ireland and the opening match of the five-match series against England at Chester-le-Street. However, the team management finally handed him his maiden international cap at the age of 15 years and 99 days, replacing Sanju Samson in the playing XI.
"He definitely deserves a chance in the upcoming 50-over World Cup if he performs exceptionally well in T20 cricket. He has the potential to be a match-winner," Sivaramakrishnan told PTI.
"When he scores runs, he will be a match-winner in every format of white-ball cricket," he added.
India currently enjoy an abundance of batting talent in white-ball cricket. While Sooryavanshi has already broken into the T20I squad, competition for places in the ODI team remains intense, with Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Yashasvi Jaiswal all competing for the opening positions.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup set to be held in Africa next year, selectors will closely monitor Sooryavanshi's performances before deciding whether to introduce him into the 50-over side.
Although his cricketing foundation has largely been built in longer white-ball formats—where he has already featured in 38 senior and youth one-day matches, scoring 1,412 runs and four centuries in 25 Youth ODIs—it was his outstanding performances in the Indian Premier League that accelerated his rise to international cricket.
Across two IPL seasons, Sooryavanshi has played 34 explosive T20 matches, consistently dominating quality bowling attacks with an attacking approach that belies his age. His ability to maximise the powerplay and maintain a strike rate well above 160 made him difficult for the selectors to overlook.
He carried that form into international youth cricket, smashing a blistering 94 off just 29 balls against Sri Lanka in Dambulla, including a half-century in only 11 deliveries. Earlier in the year, he also produced a match-winning innings of 175 against England in the Under-19 World Cup final.
Calls for Long-Term Backing
Sivaramakrishnan also urged India's team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, to show patience with the youngster and continue backing him even if he experiences setbacks early in his international career.
"He should be given a fair number of opportunities in white-ball cricket to show what he can do. Once he starts playing, there is no reason to keep resting him. He doesn't need rest at this stage of his career. He can continue playing throughout the year," Sivaramakrishnan told PTI.
He added that, as a batter, Sooryavanshi does not face the same physical workload as bowlers and would benefit from spending extended periods at the crease.
"Batting regularly will also help him improve his concentration and mental endurance," he said.
According to Sivaramakrishnan, once the decision has been made to include the youngster, the team management must give him sufficient opportunities to develop.
"He is an investment for the next 20 years. What Vaibhav needs now is strong support from the coach, the captain, and his teammates. Even if he doesn't perform in a few matches, they should continue backing him and allow him to grow."
