IPL 2026, RR vs CSK: Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his meteoric rise with a stunning performance in IPL 2026, powering Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a commanding win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Monday. The 15-year-old sensation, who celebrated his birthday just days ago, hammered a blistering 15-ball half-century to give RR a dream start while chasing 128.
Sooryavanshi tore into the CSK bowling attack during the powerplay, propelling Rajasthan to 74/0 in no time. Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 52 after 17 balls, laced with four boundaries and five sixes, after stitching a 75-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Rajasthan sealed victory in just 12.1 overs after chasing down a victory target of 128.
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This was Sooryavanshi's third fifty-plus score since his IPL debut in 2025. He had already grabbed headlines last season by hitting the first ball of his IPL career for a six. He also smashed a breathtaking 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans, the second-fastest hundred in IPL history after Chris Gayle's iconic 30-ball ton against the Pune Warriors in 2013.
Sooryavanshi's latest masterclass has triggered widespread praise across the cricketing fraternity, with calls for his inclusion in the Indian national team growing louder. Several former cricketers, including England legend Michael Vaughan and ex-India stars Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, and Ambati Rayudu, have urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to fast-track the youngster's entry into the national setup.
BCCI Told To Bring Sooryanvanshi In India Team
After Sooryanvanshi's 15-ball fifty, Michael Vaughan has asked the BCCI to include him in the upcoming white-ball tour against England in June. Vaughan said that Sooryavanshi should at least play 2-3 matches in the upcoming tour.
"When will he make his Indian debut? And I'm just looking, and I know we're probably getting ahead of ourselves. It's only the first innings of the IPL, but there's a white-ball tour to England in a few months' time. And if I was Indian cricket, I would get him on that tour. Not necessarily, he's going to get into players that are in the team at the moment, but the one thing that he's going to need is he's going to need to be brought into the Indian team and the kind of surroundings of what Indian cricket is," Vaughan said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
"Just bring him in, and if he plays one or two games, fantastic, but get him on a tour. Is he allowed to go on tours as a 15-year-old? I'd be giving him a little bit of experience with that Indian team. Not necessarily, as I said, jumping straight into the side, but just having him around. He's good enough to play. I do not doubt that," he added.
Former India all-rounder Mohammad Kaif also revised his early assessment of Sooryavanshi and said that he is now convinced that the youngster is ready for the next stage of his career.
"Last season, I thought Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was getting hyped way too early. As an old-school cricketer, I believe there should be no haste in fast-tracking young players. But a year later, I think he is ready to graduate to the next level. The 15-year-old can entertain and play match-winning knocks," Kaif wrote on X.
Former India player Piyush Chawla echoed similar views. "If he plays like that, would love to see him fast-tracked," the former leg-spinner said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "Over the last year, in Under-19, domestic, whatever he has played, he went there and he scored hundreds. And it's not only hundreds, he scored big hundreds," Chawla added.
Former India player Ambati Rayudu was also convinced of Sooryavanshi's talent. "He looks a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country, and he's a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket. I don't know when, but definitely in the future," Rayudu said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Rayudu, however, felt that breaking into a T20 squad that successfully defended their World Cup title earlier this month would not be an easy task for the teenage opener. "Don't forget, our Indian team is a world champion team. It's won the T20 World Cup. So to replace somebody in that side is not easy. To me, there are a few players ahead of him at the moment, because you tend to pick and build your teams ahead of the next ICC competition," he said.