New Delhi: With the T20 World Cup just two months away, the BCCI has been approached by Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s childhood coach, Manish Ojha, who believes the young sensation is ready for international cricket.
Ojha has urged the selectors to consider the 14-year-old for India’s T20I squad, citing his brilliant form. The request came three days after Suryavanshi played an explosive knock of 171 against the UAE in the ongoing Under-19 Asia Cup, marking his sixth century of 2025.
Suryavanshi grabbed everyone’s attention earlier this year after he made his IPL debut in 2025 for Rajasthan Royals, when he smashed a century against Gujarat Titans to become the youngest player to score an IPL hundred. He followed it up with centuries against England and Australia, two more against the UAE, and another for Bihar in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite limited exposure to senior domestic cricket or an Under-19 World Cup, Ojha feels Suryavanshi has the character and skill to thrive in the fast-paced T20 format.
“In my opinion, he’s absolutely ready, at least for the Indian T20 team. Look at the IPL most bowlers he faced were international bowlers, and the rest were top domestic bowlers. He was executing his shots beautifully against them. It’s up to the BCCI to decide, but in my view, he’s ready for T20Is and even ODIs. Given the way he’s playing, he should be given a chance sooner rather than later. It would be a record for India and a huge encouragement for a young player,” Ojha told India Today.
“He’ll handle it easily. He was part of the Rising Stars Asia Cup, and even there, he stood out. He played with some established India stars in the team led by Jitesh Sharma, but didn’t he stand out?” Manish added.
Since his record-breaking knock for Rajasthan Royals, Suryavanshi got multiple opportunity as he featured in white-ball matches in England and even a red-ball game in Australia. He also represented India A in the Rising Star Asia Cup, where he once again impressed. Suryavanshi has piled up six centuries and scripted several records, including the fastest hundred in Youth ODIs and the joint third-fastest century by an Indian in men’s T20 cricket.
During his 171 against the UAE during the Asia Cup, he set a world record for the most sixes in a single Youth ODI innings, smashing 14 maximums, two more than the previous mark held by Australia’s Michael Hill. He also became the first player in history to hit over 50 sixes in Youth ODIs. Earlier, his unbeaten 108 against Maharashtra made him the youngest batter to score a century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history.
While international cricket comes with a lochallenge, Ojha remains highly confident about Suryavanshi’s ability to succeed at the highest level.
“In the IPL, he played in front of massive crowds, as loud and intense as any India match. But he played normally, stuck to his game, and didn’t show hesitation, nervousness or anxiety. He was completely calm. I’m 100 per cent sure he’ll handle the pressure at the international level as well,” the coach added.