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  • 36 Years After Tendulkar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Begins His Nz Journey In The Same City

36 Years After Tendulkar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Begins His NZ Journey In The Same City

Aakash Saini

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sachin Tendulkar [Source: AFP]Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sachin Tendulkar [Source: AFP]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named in Team India’s playing XI for the second T20I of their five-match series against hosts New Zealand. The youngster was brought back into the primary XI as a replacement for injured wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan.

It is worth noting that with his surprise appearance, the 15-year-old has now drawn an interesting parallel with former cricketer and India’s all-time great, Sachin Tendulkar.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi draws another interesting parallel with Sachin Tendulkar

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already drawn comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar, especially owing to his meteoric rise in competitive cricket at such a tender age, much like the great man himself.

On Saturday, October 24, the 15-year-old was named in India’s playing XI for the second T20I of their away series against New Zealand. The match not only marked Sooryavanshi’s first appearance for Team India since winning the 2026 Asian Games gold medal in Japan, but also his first outing in New Zealand.

Notably, Sooryavanshi’s first game in New Zealand has come at Christchurch, the very same city where Sachin Tendulkar played his first match in the country 36 years ago. 

While Tendulkar made his first appearance in New Zealand with a Test match back in February 1990 at the Lancaster Park in Christchurch at an age of nearly 17, the current 15-year-old batting prodigy made his New Zealand debut with a T20I at the city’s Hagley Oval.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes youngest overseas star to play in New Zealand

Apart from drawing an interesting parallel with the great Sachin Tendulkar, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also became the youngest overseas player to play an international cricket match in New Zealand.

At the time of India’s second T20I of their five-match series against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval on October 24, Sooryavanshi’s age was 15 years and 211 days.

He surpassed the previous record set by former Bangladesh cricketer Mohammad Sharif, who played his first match in New Zealand back in 2001 at an age of 16 years and six days. Here is a look at five of the youngest overseas cricketers to play an international match in New Zealand.

Youngest to Play in a Men’s International Match in New Zealand 

  • 15y 211d – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India) vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 2026 (T20I), Tonight* 
  • 16y 6d – Mohammad Sharif (Bangladesh) vs New Zealand, Hamilton, 2001 (Test) 
  • 16y 185d – Aaqib Javed (Pakistan) vs New Zealand, Dunedin, 1989 (ODI) 
  • 16y 284d – Sachin Tendulkar (India) vs New Zealand, Christchurch, 1990 (Test) 
  • 17y 164d – Mohammad Ashraful (Bangladesh) vs New Zealand, Hamilton, 2001 (Test)

In doing so, Sooryavanshi has added yet another significant milestone to his burgeoning international career, further underlining the extraordinary trajectory of his rise in Indian cricket.