Ajit Agarkar tight-lipped on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut: ‘Don’t forget Yashasvi Jaiswal’

Agarkar played it safe, stating that although the selectors are excited by what Sooryavanshi has to offer, he will get his opportunity when the time is right.

Updated on: May 19, 2026, 22:42:19 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI chairman of selectors, remained reserved in his assessment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the prospects of the 15-year-old making his India debut anytime soon. Agarkar played it safe, stating that although the selectors are excited by what Sooryavanshi has to offer, he will get his opportunity when the time is right. Sooryavanshi has captured the imagination of cricket fans and pundits worldwide, with several former players backing his inclusion in India’s T20I squad to begin with.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut will have to wait (PTI)

Last week, the BCCI named Sooryavanshi in the India A one-day squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in June, a move that significantly reduces his chances of travelling to Ireland for the two ODIs, for which he was reportedly shortlisted. However, going by Agarkar’s remarks, Sooryavanshi is expected to follow the process, gradually climbing the ranks before earning his senior India cap.

Also Read: After 12 matches for Rajasthan Royals, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready to play for India but there is a big problem

“We picked him for the India A team because he is young and immensely promising. The idea is to give these youngsters exposure. Yashasvi Jaiswal is already part of the ODI set-up as well. As impressive as Sooryavanshi has been, there are others who have performed strongly too. We are very excited about him and hopefully he can showcase his talent when he travels with the A team,” Agarkar said at the reveal of India’s Test and ODI squads against Afghanistan.

Why the Sooryavanshi delay?

Sooryavanshi has done little wrong so far. After announcing his arrival in last year’s IPL with a record-breaking century, he has tasted success almost everywhere he has gone and played cricket. He already has centuries in England, South Africa and Australia, and also won the Under 19 World Cup in his first and only attempt, scoring a match-winning 175 in the final. Michael Vaughan and Kris Srikkanth are among several cricketing greats who cannot wait to see Sooryavanshi make the cut for the tour of England in June and July, even if not necessarily for a place in the Playing XI.

However, all of that is easier said than done. Indian cricket has traditionally followed a fixed pattern. A premature Sooryavanshi debut would mean unfair treatment towards others waiting in line. At the end of the day, he is still only 15, and although he is eligible to become India’s youngest international debutant, despite Ravi Shastri’s suggestion to the BCCI that he is ready may not be enough, the teenager might just have to wait a little longer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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