Teen Cricket Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Benched for India Debut

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-06-30

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed on June 29, 2026, that teenage batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his international debut. This news came right after India's surprising 2-0 series loss to Ireland in Belfast. Fans expected the 15-year-old to play, but the team kept him on the bench. Ten Doeschate explained that while the youngster is absolutely ready, he needs to follow the same process as every other player. It's a tough call, but the team has a plan. ### Why India Kept Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the Bench The Indian team management chose to trust established players during the Ireland tour. Even after losing the first match, they didn't change the opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Ten Doeschate said the team wants to give players a long run to build their confidence. Recently, Sanju Samson helped India win the World Cup. So the coaching staff thinks it's unfair to drop him after just a few low scores. Samson struggled in Ireland with scores of 5 and 0, but his past success keeps him in the team for now. The assistant coach admitted Sooryavanshi is talented enough for the highest level. But he insisted the boy from Bihar must bide his time. This strategy aims to create stability within the squad, even if it frustrates fans. ### The Brutal Training Secret Behind His Success Sooryavanshi's success isn't luck. His childhood coach, Manish Ojha, recently revealed a grueling routine. Since age eight, Vaibhav practiced for eight hours every single day. - He faced over 600 balls per day on average - Training started at 7:30 am and went until 4:00 pm - His father, Sanjeev, traveled 62 miles every other day to take him to a better cricket academy in Patna This repetitive practice built the muscle memory he needs to hit massive sixes. It's a level of dedication most people can't imagine. ### Scientific Analysis of His Batting Technique Cricket analysts have studied why a 15-year-old can hit the ball so far. Unlike many players, Vaibhav uses a loading phase similar to professional baseball hitters. He shifts all his weight to his back leg before the ball is released. This lets him coil his body like a rubber band and release maximum energy when he swings. He also has a very high back lift. At the top of his swing, his bat points toward the bowler, giving him a longer arc to generate power. He's quicker than average by all lengths, with data showing good length and short deliveries. ### Sunil Gavaskar Questions the Selection Call Not everyone agrees with ten Doeschate's wait-and-see approach. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed surprise that Sooryavanshi didn't debut in Ireland. Gavaskar argued the Ireland series was the perfect chance to ease him into international cricket. > "Playing against a smaller team like Ireland would have prepared him for tougher matches against England." Gavaskar warned that Sooryavanshi is a player selectors can't ignore for long. He expects the teenager to get a chance during the upcoming five-match T20I series in England. ### What's Next for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Although he missed the Ireland matches, Sooryavanshi remains in the squad for the England tour starting July 1 in Durham. If Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson continue to struggle, the team might finally hand the teenager his cap. Beyond England, Sooryavanshi is also part of the India squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. If he makes his debut soon, he'll become India's youngest-ever international cricketer. That would be a huge moment for Indian cricket.