India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, has confidently stated that the young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is more than ready to step onto the international stage, although his debut will have to wait a bit longer. This came in the wake of India’s surprising 2-0 T20I series loss to Ireland. Ten Doeschate, who plays a crucial role as the assistant coach, praised the 15-year-old’s talent, as he said, “He’s absolutely ready to play international cricket, there’s no doubt about that. But also, I think it’s not a question to say you can leave Sanju Samson out. A guy who went a long way to winning India the World Cup three months ago. A guy who’s had a fairly good IPL.”
Sooryavanshi made a splash by being fast-tracked into the national T20I squad after an outstanding IPL 2026 season, where he racked up 776 runs in just 16 innings at an impressive strike rate of 237.30, earning him the title of Player of the Tournament. Despite this, he found himself warming the bench during the Ireland series.
The assistant coach also stood firm in his support for the senior players, noting that Sanju Samson shouldn’t be sidelined just because of a couple of rough performances. Ten Doeschate highlighted Samson’s pivotal contribution to India’s T20 World Cup victory just three months ago, along with his strong showing in the IPL. He reiterated that the management is keen on providing players with a longer leash to help them build confidence and ensure consistency in their selections.
Teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Continues To Deliver In High-Pressure Games
Sooryavanshi is really making a name for himself as a player who shines when it matters most. In the India A Tri-Nation Series final against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Sunday, this left-handed dynamo smashed an impressive 94 runs off just 29 balls, which included 10 fours and a whopping eight sixes. He reached his half-century in a mere 11 balls, helping India A set a formidable total of 377/9 before clinching the title with a solid 66-run victory.
Earlier this year, the young star also wowed everyone with a stunning performance in the Under-19 World Cup final against England, where he scored 175 runs off 80 balls, featuring 15 fours and 15 sixes, leading India to a convincing 100-run win. His prowess was on full display during the IPL 2026 playoffs as well. In the Eliminator, he blasted 97 runs off 29 balls for the Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad, propelling his team into Qualifier 2. Just two days later, he followed that up with 96 runs off 47 balls against the Gujarat Titans, once again proving his mettle in a high-stakes match.
Now, all eyes are on India’s upcoming white-ball tour of England, where Sooryavanshi has secured a spot in the T20I squad. The five-match T20I series kicks off on July 1 at Chester-le-Street, with subsequent matches on July 4 in Manchester, July 7 in Nottingham, July 9 in Bristol, and July 11 in Southampton. The tour wraps up with a three-match ODI series on July 16, July 19, and July 22. After missing out in Ireland, this England series could be the perfect chance for the 15-year-old to finally make his long-awaited international debut.
