Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The buzz around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has reached a fever pitch in IPL 2026, with former India captain Kris Srikkanth making a dramatic call to fast-track the 15-year-old sensation into the national setup — while even rival skipper Shreyas Iyer has labelled him “one for the future.”Srikkanth, known for his blunt takes, did not hold back as he urged selectors to act immediately. “This guy, Sooryavanshi… imagine someone playing such shots. That boy is simply outstanding and brilliant. Ajit, I’m telling you, you need to fast-track him. The next series, he should be playing,” he told The Week, addressing chief selector Ajit Agarkar.‘No need to wait, he’s a match-winner’The former chief selector dismissed the idea of a gradual approach, insisting the youngster is ready for the big stage. “I think Sooryavanshi should be fast-tracked. No question of ‘give him time, let him be consistent’. No chance. That guy can win matches for you just like that,” Srikkanth said.He pointed to the fearless manner in which the teenager has taken on elite bowlers this season — smashing Jasprit Bumrah for sixes and hammering Josh Hazlewood without hesitation. “Imagine, first ball, he hits Bumrah for a six… he’s not bothered about who the bowler is. He’s a prodigy,” he added.Tendulkar comparison raises stakesIn a striking comparison, Srikkanth invoked Sachin Tendulkar’s early rise. “When I went as captain in 1989, there was a prodigy — a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar. Today, he’s the God of Cricket. Similarly, this boy could well become the next ‘demigod’ of cricket,” he said.The excitement is not limited to former players. Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer also praised the youngster’s technique and temperament. “He is a spectacular talent… the way he has that bat flow, the rhythm and momentum… I think he is one for the future,” Iyer noted.Sooryavanshi has backed the hype with numbers, scoring 246 runs in six matches at a staggering strike rate of 236.53 this season.For now, all eyes remain on the prodigy as Rajasthan Royals face Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday, with the teenager at the centre of Indian cricket’s next big debate.
