Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make India debut? Teenager likely to be selected for THIS tour

Ever since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket in last year’s IPL, there has been a chorus of voices urging the selectors to fast-track the teenager into the Indian team. With the baby-faced marauder, who had smashed a 35-ball century (101 off 38 balls) for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, turning 15 this year, he is eligible for selection to the senior Indian team.

According to the ICC's Minimum Age Eligibility criteria: "A player will only be eligible to represent a National Cricket Federation in an International Match (including ICC Events and U19 Events) if he or she is aged 15 or over on the relevant squad submission date (in the case of ICC Events including U19 Events) or on the date of the first match of the series/tournament to be played (in the case of all other International Matches)."

Sooryavanshi has been in red-hot form in this year’s IPL, having scored 200 runs in five matches so far at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 263.15. The highlight has been his 26-ball 78 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which subjected the defending champions to their only loss so far this season.

And now, a report says that the 15-year-old is all set to become the youngest male player to represent India in international cricket. Indian Express quoted a BCCI source as saying that the selectors are likely to include Sooryavanshi in the squad for the tour of Ireland. If he performs well, he may also be considered for the series against Zimbabwe. India are set to play two T20Is against Ireland in June and three T20Is against Zimbabwe in July. A largely second-string side is expected to feature in both the series as India will be looking to test their bench strength ahead of the white-ball series against England.

Recently, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal had urged the selectors to give the 15-year-old a chance to represent India.

If selected, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest male cricketer to represent India at the senior level, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record – he made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 at 16 years and 205 days. Shafali Verma is the youngest cricketer to play for India at 15 years, seven months and 27 days. If Sooryavanshi plays in Ireland, he will break Shafali’s record, too.