Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into Indian cricket history on Saturday by becoming the youngest male player to represent the country in international cricket. The Bihar batting sensation made his debut in the second T20I against England in Manchester at the age of just 15 years and 99 days.
The landmark appearance saw Sooryavanshi surpass Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record. Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days old when he made his international debut in the 1989 Test against Pakistan in Karachi, making Sooryavanshi the first 15-year-old to play for the Indian men's team.
The youngster received his India cap from Tilak Varma at Old Trafford before taking his place in the playing XI. He replaced senior opener Sanju Samson and was named to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma.
Sooryavanshi's rapid rise has been one of the most extraordinary stories in recent Indian cricket. The left-handed batter from Bihar first came into the national spotlight when he made his Ranji Trophy debut at the age of 12. His profile rose further after the Rajasthan Royals signed him ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League.
Making his IPL debut at 14, Sooryavanshi wasted little time in rewriting the record books, smashing a 35-ball century against the Gujarat Titans to become the youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket.
His remarkable progress continued in 2026 when he captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title, scoring a commanding century in the final. He then enjoyed a sensational IPL campaign, finishing as the tournament's Orange Cap winner and Most Valuable Player.
His performances left the national selectors and the Indian team management with little choice but to elevate the teenage prodigy to the senior side despite his young age.
