Former India selector MSK Prasad has hailed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a ‘super talent’ and arguably the best T20 player in the world at the moment, urging the selectors to include the teenage sensation in India’s squad for the upcoming tour of Ireland later this month.
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a phenomenal campaign in the Indian Premier League 2026, where he dominated the competition despite being just 15 years old. The youngster finished the season with the Orange Cap, while also claiming the Most Valuable Player award, Most Sixes award, and the Highest Strike Rate accolade.
“He is not just a prodigy or a super talent. He is already among the best in the world in T20 cricket. He should be fast tracked immediately into the Indian side. He should be picked for the Ireland series which happens after the India A tri series in Sri Lanka,” Prasad said as quoted by NDTV Sports.
“I think, it’s nicely poised for him to be drafted into the senior Indian team. I think he is going to flourish in the India A tri series in Sri Lanka as well. See, there is no point holding him back. He is going to play for India soon and he is going to play for a long time,” the former India wicket-keeper batter predicted. Playing India A and then playing for India is usually the norm but playing high pressure IPL among the best in the world is the best way to get into the Indian side. I think the selectors are also thinking on the same line. It’s just a matter of time that he will play for India and will play for a long time,” he added.
Sooryavanshi reminds me of 16-year-old Sachin: Wassan
Prasad, however, also offered a word of caution for Sooryavanshi despite his extraordinary rise. Prasad advised the 15-year-old to focus on improving his fitness, emphasizing that physical conditioning will be crucial for sustaining success at the highest level over a long career. While praising Sooryavanshi’s dominance in T20 cricket, Prasad noted that the youngster is already competing with some of the best players in the world and should now be tested in other formats as well.
“It’s good to see that in a post match interaction he said on Sunday that he needs to improve his fitness. He has been under the tutelage of NCA for quite some time now. See he is only 15. He should be carefully handled and looked after. He should be carefully monitored. I feel he should be under the tutelage of (VVS) Laxman or (Rahul) Dravid for sometime. They are the guys who can keep him humble. At this stage it’s needed to shape his career in the right manner,” Prasad said.
“Forget India, he is one of the best in the world. He is undoubtedly a big surprise package. Though he should play for India in T20Is, he should be monitored well for two years and then he can be on his own. He should slowly start from T20Is then to ODIs & other formats. Of course, he has it in him to play the longer formats as he has shown he can take the best of the world and tear them apart. The best part is he has so much understanding of the game,” he added.
