Meet the Rising Star: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Joins India's T20I Squad!
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Exciting Call-Up
Mumbai: The young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has received his first call-up to the Indian T20I squad for upcoming tours in Ireland, England, and the Asian Games. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the new captain for the T20I team, taking over from Suryakumar Yadav, who has been omitted from all three squads.
Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, stated, "Shreyas was very close to making the T20 World Cup squad. It was a difficult decision regarding Suryakumar Yadav, but we need to rethink our strategy moving forward. Shreyas is a deserving captain with ample experience."
He further explained, "We had extensive discussions about the captaincy, especially considering past World Cup winners. Shreyas's current form has made this decision easier."
India's T20I matches will commence with two games in Belfast on June 26 and 28, followed by a five-match series in England from July 1 to 11. Additionally, they will participate in the Men's T20 event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. Suryakumar, who led India to a successful T20 World Cup title defense in March, faced scrutiny due to his ongoing poor performance.
In IPL 2026, he scored only 270 runs in 13 innings with an average of 20.76, and his World Cup performance yielded 242 runs at a strike rate of 136.72. With the next T20 World Cup set for 2028, selectors deemed it necessary to transition leadership to Shreyas, with Tilak Varma stepping in as vice-captain.
Agarkar noted, "Shubman Gill was vice-captain leading into the World Cup, but with the decision to include two keepers, he was left out. Axar Patel also served as vice-captain, but we are focusing on what’s best for the next two-year cycle. Tilak is an exceptional player, and this role will help him gain valuable experience."
Shreyas, 31, returns to the T20I setup after last playing in December 2023. Although he was part of the squad against New Zealand earlier this year, he did not make it to the playing eleven. He is expected to bat at number four, a position previously occupied by Suryakumar.
Sooryavanshi's selection is particularly noteworthy, as he was named Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament during the 2026 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The Rajasthan Royals player scored 776 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026, making him the youngest player to be included in an Indian men's squad since Sachin Tendulkar in 1989. Before joining the senior T20I tours, he will represent India A in a tri-series in Sri Lanka from June 9 to 21.
Agarkar remarked, "Vaibhav's performances have compelled us to select him. Despite his youth, his back-to-back IPL performances and achievements at the Under-19 level showcase his talent. We are optimistic that he will demonstrate his skills when given the chance."
He added, "There will be tougher challenges ahead, but he has shown great potential and composure. His performances have earned him this opportunity."
Seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, who is recovering from meniscus tear surgery, is back in the squad, along with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, who had a strong showing in IPL 2026, is included for the tours of Ireland and England, while Jasprit Bumrah will replace him in the Asian Games squad.
India's T20I squad for the tours of Ireland and England: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prince Yadav.
India's squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.