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"Like Sachin?": Vaibhav Suryavanshi's India Call-Up Buzz Shut Down By Ex-Selector

Soumyajit Dutta

Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @@mufaddal_vohra/X.com]Vaibhav Suryavanshi [Source: @@mufaddal_vohra/X.com]

At just 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi shattered records, becoming the youngest player in IPL and Indian List A history after debuting for Rajasthan Royals. Initially bought for INR 1.10 crore amidst raised eyebrows, Suryavanshi seized his chance following skipper Sanju Samson's injury, impressing with a 34-run debut. 

However, the young cricket prodigy has been asked not to be promoted soon into the National ranks by former BCCI selector.

Why V Raju Wants To Hold Vaibhav Suryavanshi's India Call-Up?

Suryavanshi's explosive talent, including a massive 190 in a U-19 preparatory match, has ignited fan excitement and inevitable comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar, with calls growing for his inclusion in the senior Indian team.

However, former India spinner and ex-selector Venkatapathy Raju urges significant caution. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Raju believes Vaibhav Suryavanshi requires substantial development before donning the senior India jersey.

"Yes, yes, he will take a lot of time. He has to be one of those guys who needs to well in U-19 World Cups. He has to perform quite a bit in domestic cricket. Four-day games. And we can give time. See, talent-wise, we've already seen him, what he can do with a white ball, right?" Raju said.

Raju also firmly soft-paddled the premature comparisons with the legendary Tendulkar, highlighting Sachin's proven domestic dominance long before his international debut.

"It depends on the consistency, right? We're a firm believer. We might talk about somebody like Sachin, right? First, Ranji Trophy debut, he got 100. Duleep Trophy, he got 100. Rest of India, he got 100, right? All three-day games. All four-day games. All five-day games. So, like that, I think when you know the talent, we should give him enough time to go and play, do well, and you feel that he's really good enough and he can perform, why not? We can still bring him in," Raju said.

Suryavanshi Aims To Impress

Currently, with the India U-19 team in England, Suryavanshi aims to make a strong impression. Born in Bihar on March 27, 2011, he reportedly began playing cricket at the age of four, coached initially by his father. 

Vaibhav Suryavanshi joined a formal academy at nine and first gained wider attention playing for Bihar's U-19 squad in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy as a 12-year-old. His potential was further highlighted at the 2024 ACC U-19 Asia Cup, where he scored 76 off 46 balls against the UAE and 67 off 36 deliveries versus Sri Lanka in the semi-finals.