Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become a poster boy for Indian cricket after notable performances in the domestic circuit, the under-19s and in the IPL where he scored a record-breaking century in his debut season (2025) for the Rajasthan Royals.

He has taken it one notch higher this term, already accumulating 246 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 236.54 including two fifties. With growing shouts over his inclusion in the Indian team, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes he is ready to don the national team colours.

“Looking at IPL as a platform, to stake a claim for the Indian T20 team and keeping an eye on his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali as well, where he’s got a 100 [vs Maharashtra], I think he’s done enough. If somebody’s lighting up this stage with this performance, then he’s ready,” Manjrekar said on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.

However, he explained that his inclusion will not be straightforward due to the long list of openers waiting in the wings for India in the shortest format, including his RR teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal and Test skipper Shubman Gill.

“He might be ready, but are the others ready to make way for it? Because there is a huge crowd to bat at number one and two for India currently,” he reasoned.

The former Mumbai batter pointed out that the Bihar prodigy belongs to the new-age T20 batters, who have the knack of making space to hit the ball. However, he explained that a lot of work had to be done with his technique if he wishes to become an all-format cricketer.

“Take all the consistent T20 batters in the last few years, Sooryavanshi will stay leg side and hit a ball on middle stump through point because he’s staying leg side of the ball. In Test cricket, the advice is to get close to the ball. You will not get 20 runs in England or Australia, South Africa by staying away from the ball,” he opined.

He further added, “If you want your kid to be famous and rich, T20 batting is for you. If you want him to get the respect of people like us, the critics, then get him to get close to the line of the ball.”

Published on Apr 21, 2026