India has called up 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the upcoming Twenty20 international series against Ireland and England, the BCCI announced Saturday. Shreyas Iyer has been named captain.
The teenager is fresh off a record-breaking Indian Premier League campaign with the Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 776 runs in 16 matches and broke Chris Gayle's record for most sixes in a season. He became the first player to win both the MVP and Best Emerging Player awards in the same IPL season.
If he debuts, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest player to represent India's senior men's team, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar who debuted at age 16.
"He's a game-changer," said selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar. "He has picked himself."
Iyer, last seen in a T20I in 2023, takes over as captain after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024. India plays two T20Is against Ireland later this month, followed by a five-match series against England in July.
The BCCI also named the squad for the Asian Games men's cricket competition in Japan, which includes veteran bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The tournament begins September 24.