Sanath Jayasuriya Highlights Promising Young Cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Emerging Talents in Indian Cricket

Gurugram (Haryana) [India] September 20: Former Sri Lankan cricket star Sanath Jayasuriya has expressed admiration for India's rising batting talents, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, emphasizing their potential to become significant contributors to the national team.

Speaking at the launch of the Corporate Cricket World Cup in Gurugram, Jayasuriya, renowned for his explosive batting and all-round capabilities, praised Sharma for his established role within the Indian squad. He noted that Sharma understands the importance of his position and consistently strives to perform at his best for the nation.

“He has solidified his place in the team and recognizes what is required of him. Each player aims to excel for their country, and these young talents signify a bright future for Indian cricket,” Jayasuriya remarked.

Sharma recently made headlines by scoring a record-breaking century against Afghanistan in the third T20I at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he hit 108 runs off just 34 balls, reaching his century in a mere 31 deliveries. His outstanding performance helped India set a total of 221/7.

For his remarkable contributions throughout the series, Sharma was awarded both Player of the Match and Player of the Series. India subsequently bowled out Afghanistan for 94 runs in just 14.1 overs, with Ravi Bishnoi and Nitish Kumar Reddy each taking three wickets.

This 127-run victory not only secured a 3-0 series win for India but also marked Afghanistan's heaviest defeat in T20I history, with their total of 94 being the lowest they have ever scored against India in this format.

Jayasuriya also highlighted Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as an exciting prospect for the future of Indian cricket, while emphasizing the need for him to continue his hard work. “He shows great promise for the future of Indian cricket. However, he has a long journey ahead and must remain dedicated,” he stated.

At just 15 years old, Sooryavanshi has already made significant strides in cricket. He recently became the youngest player to score a half-century in the Duleep Trophy, breaking a 57-year-old record by achieving this feat at the age of 15 years and 157 days.

During the Duleep Trophy 2026 semifinal against Central Zone, he scored an impressive 92 runs off 81 balls in the first innings and followed it up with a crucial 40 runs in the final innings, leading East Zone to a four-wicket victory and a spot in the final.

Prior to this, Sooryavanshi scored 151 runs in three matches against Zimbabwe, earning his first Player of the Series award as India completed a clean sweep of 3-0.

Earlier in the T20I series against England, he became the youngest player to debut for India internationally. His debut followed a stellar IPL 2026 season with the Rajasthan Royals, where he amassed 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30, including a century and five fifties. He concluded the tournament as the leading run-scorer, hitting a record 72 sixes.

The young talent also received multiple post-season accolades, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker, and Super Sixes awards. His exceptional performance in the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year, where he scored 439 runs and was named Player of the Tournament, further underscores his immense potential.

The Corporate World Cup (CWC), touted as the first global corporate cricket tournament, was officially launched in Gurugram on Sunday. This initiative aims to unite the corporate cricket community through a structured competition across 24 cities, culminating in the inaugural Corporate World Cup in July 2027.

The tournament is organized by Pro Corporate League (PCL), a leading corporate cricket platform in India with a 15-year legacy in organizing and promoting corporate cricket. PCL is now expanding corporate cricket to an international level through the Corporate World Cup.