Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed Afghanistan’s former T20I captain Rashid Khan with his fearless approach and exceptional skill at a remarkably young age. Sooryavanshi received his India T20I cap at Old Trafford at age 15 years and 99 days, breaking the record for India’s youngest international debutant since Sachin Tendulkar’s 1989 Test debut.
The teenager was handed his India T20I cap in July 2026 and has already made an impact on the international stage, winning the Player of the Series award on the tour of Zimbabwe.
“Well, as I mentioned – fearless cricket. And he backs up his skills and knows his shots. I think his shot selection is more important, and he knows his game plan against any side, any bowler, anytime. You hardly see those kinds of things at a very young age; it comes with time, but he already has it,” Khan told the Times of India.
“The way he plays fearlessly is what makes him unique. And the power he has, the hand-eye coordination; I think it is something very different. You hardly see that in any [other] player. He is a god-gifted talent,” he added.
Sooryavanshi’s recent performances and impact
Rashid admitted that he wasn’t as talented as Sooryavanshi when he was 15 years old. The Gujarat Titans’ vice-captain mentioned Sooryavanshi’s ability to clear the ropes with ease, despite being so young.
“I wasn’t that talented, to be honest, at that age, but yes, the skill was there. But I don’t know if I could hit those big sixes at that age, how he has been hitting. But as I said, he is a unique talent, and he has shown it not only in the IPL, but even in the Indian team as well, so I think he is someone very special,” Khan said.
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Sooryavanshi hasn’t played a game so far in the ongoing three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan. The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have done well. However, with the series already in the bag, India might want to give Sooryavanshi a chance to play his first international game in his country.
