The new name in Indian cricket is . After an impressive IPL 2026 and U-19 World Cup, the 15-year-old was rewarded with an international cap.
He became India’s youngest debutant and also the youngest in the world to score an international cap. After struggling vs England, he came into his own vs Zimbabwe.
The Journey Has Only Just Began
He is still a kid and has a long way to go. While he is a regular in T20Is, there is talk of trying him out in ODIs while the young man himself has said he would love to play Tests. But it’s easier said than done. The transition, while possible, will not be one that can happen overnight.
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T20I Spot Not Guaranteed
At the moment, Vaibhav is a regular opener in T20Is, but a sudden loss of form could see walk back into the side. With the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan on the side, Vaibhav cannot afford to take his place for granted and relax. He is on the right track, but there is a long way to go. The southpaw is being considered for the LA Olympics and T20 World Cup in 2028 and a good show at the Asian Games next month will go a long way in cementing that spot.
Time on His Side in ODIs
In ODIs, there have been calls to make him open with and prepare him for the 2027 World Cup. In fact, he could be the replacement for Rohit in the long run. But with talent like Yashasvi Jaiswal also waiting in the wings, it may happen later than sooner. Of course, time is on his side since he is only a teenager.
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The Test Challenge
Breaking into the Test side may be the ultimate challenge for Vaibhav. To think of playing him anywhere other than the opening slot is sacrilege as he would be wasted anywhere else. But the opening positions have been pretty much locked by KL Rahul and Jaiswal. With Devdutt Padikkal pretty much owning the No. 3 spot, Vaibhav does not really have any scope to make it into the top order. Of course, he can be the reserve opener and fill in once Rahul is out of the picture in a few years. But then, again, that change of guard will not happen in the blink of an eye.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Needs to Wait His Turn
The brutal truth is that Vaibhav has a lot to do to establish himself in any format for Team India. He’s not even two months old in international cricket and needs to be given space to grow. It is possible that one day he will be opening for India across all formats. When and if that day comes, it will be truly special. But it’s not happening anytime soon so let’s give the kid room to thrive and display his talent to the world.