![Why BCCI shouldn't rush picking Sooryavanshi in T20Is [Source: AP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1779966100930_WhyBCCIshouldn'trushpickingSooryavanshiinT20Is.jpg?type=hq)
Why BCCI shouldn't rush picking Sooryavanshi in T20Is [Source: AP]
People laughed when the Rajasthan Royals splashed INR 1.10 crore to acquire the services of teenager, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, soon, everyone regretted it as the Royals had the last laugh due to the fact that Sooryavanshu turned out to be their best investment in the IPL.
From being labelled as a “one-season wonder” to getting shouts for an India call-up, Sooryavanshi has come a long way in the IPL 2026 season. He has taken the league by storm with his batting, and has been pivotal in the Rajasthan Royals’ success in the IPL 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL journey at a glance
The left-handed youngster made his IPL debut midway through the last season, and from an unknown commodity, he became a household name, almost immediately. In IPL 2025, the young gun played 7 matches and scored 252 runs, with a strike rate of 206.56.
He was expected to play a key role in RR’s success in IPL 2026. That’s exactly what happened. Sooryavanshi has played 15 matches this campaign and slammed 680 runs, with a strike rate of 242.
His exploits have helped the franchise reach Qualifier 2 of the IPL, and en route, the batter has shattered multiple IPL records at such a young age.
However, despite his IPL exploits, the BCCI shouldn't rush him into the Indian T2OI side, and here's why.
Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shouldn't be picked in India's T20I squad
1) India has a Settled T20I top order
In Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, India has a settled opening pair who recently helped the Indian side win the T20 World Cup 2026. The pair was pivotal in Team India’s success, and the duo has complemented each other to perfection.
As they say, why fix something that is not broken? Finally, after lots of hard-work, India found its opening jewel in Abhishek and Samson, and breaking them after a successful T20 World Cup stint doesn’t look like the right decision.
The pair of Abhishek and Samson should be given a few more T20I series before the management decides to part ways and pick Sooryavanshi.
Also Read: AB de Villiers Reacts To Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Breaking Chris Gayle's IPL Record
2) Untested as fielder
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might be the most destructive IPL batter going around, but he is still unpolished as a fielder. The RR opener has dropped a couple of chances on the field in IPL games, and to cover up his weak point, the Rajasthan Royals use him wisely- as an impact player.
Whenever RR bats, Sooryavanshi opens the innings, scores runs, and gets subbed off as an impact player. Similarly, when RR fields first, Sooryavanshi warms the bench before he gets subbed on. This way, RR gets away with his fielding blunders, but that cannot happen in international cricket.
In international cricket, there is no impact player rule, and opponents will tend to exploit Sooryavanshi’s fielding weaknesses. Hence, he should first work on his fielding before the BCCI picks him up.
3) Too early to judge his calibre?
There are players who grind for years in the domestic circuit, and yet, they don’t get the recognition or the India call-up. Sooryavanshi is just 15-years-old, and the BCCI should wait for at-least one more year before picking him up in the T20Is.
Yes, he has been the best IPL 2026 batter, but is it too early to judge his calibre on the basis of a solitary IPL campaign?
At 15, there has not been a better player than him in cricket, but perhaps, the selectors should wait for a bit before they decide to call the young sensation in the Indian squad.
Also Read: 4 Indians In As ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Officials Revealed
