India hand 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi maiden T20I call-up

India on Saturday, June 6, 2026, named 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in its Twenty20 International squad to face Ireland and England, officials said. The selection follows a breakout Indian Premier League season with Rajasthan Royals in which he topped the scoring charts with 776 runs in 16 matches.

If he debuts later this month or in July, he would become the youngest men’s player to represent India, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s debut age of 16. The announcement also confirmed a change of captain in the T20I setup.

Sooryavanshi’s IPL campaign featured one century and five half-centuries, alongside a new single-season sixes record. He became the first player in league history to be named both Most Valuable Player and Best Emerging Player, underscoring the scale of his rise as a left-handed top-order option who punishes the new ball and clears boundaries at pace.

Selection officials highlighted his consistency under playoff pressure and his ability to change games as reasons for fast-tracking him into the senior squad. The call-up was framed as a reward for sustained production, rather than a brief hot streak, with decision-makers viewing his strike power and temperament as traits that translate to international cricket.

BCCI turns to youth after record IPL surge

Officials said the move continues a recent pattern of elevating in-form IPL performers directly into the T20I side. Beyond headline numbers, Sooryavanshi’s ability to score quickly in high-leverage overs and handle closing scenarios was cited as a marker of readiness for international demands.

Youngest-cap landmark in sight

Should he debut against Ireland or in the subsequent England series, Sooryavanshi would set a men’s team age record by playing at 15, edging Tendulkar’s long-standing benchmark. The potential milestone signals the board’s willingness to trust prodigious talent when domestic output is emphatic.

Shreyas Iyer appointed T20I captain

Shreyas Iyer takes over as T20I captain, replacing Suryakumar Yadav. Officials said Iyer’s leadership credentials were strengthened by guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and leading Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish in 2025 before returning them to the playoffs this year. Iyer last featured in a T20I in December 2023.

Suryakumar omitted after lean run

Suryakumar, who recently captained India to a T20 World Cup triumph, misses out following a dip in returns. He scored 242 runs in nine World Cup innings and managed 270 in 13 IPL knocks at an average of 20.76 for Mumbai Indians, who finished second-bottom. Selection leaders framed the change as part of a broader reassessment after a major tournament cycle.

Schedules and Asian Games squad named

India will play two T20Is in Ireland later this month, followed by a five-match series against England in July. The board also confirmed its men’s squad for this year’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with veteran pacer Jasprit Bumrah included. The men’s competition runs from September 24 to October 3.

Attention now turns to whether Sooryavanshi debuts in Dublin and how Iyer’s first series at the helm shapes India’s T20 plans for the rest of the year.