Vaibhav Suryavanshi: India’s 15-year-old cricket star named in T20 squad to play England and Ireland

15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been included in India’s T20 squad to play in England and Ireland this summer.

Suryavanshi had a stunning Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign for Rajasthan Royals, topping the batting charts with 776 runs and breaking Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a season.

The left-handed opener, who became the first player in IPL history to be named both the Most Valuable Player and Best Emerging Player, has now been picked for two T20Is in Ireland, followed by five matches in England starting July 1.

If Suryavanshi debuts against Ireland or England, he will become the youngest player to represent the Indian men’s senior team, surpassing the great Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days.

Suryavanshi is lined up to make his international debut in Belfast, where India will play Ireland in two T20Is at the Stormont Cricket Ground on June 26 and 28.

A reunion with Royals teammate Jofra Archer could then be on the cards as India take on England in a five-match series from July 1-11.

“We have seen what he can do; (he) carries Rajasthan Royals almost single-handedly,” selection panel chairman Ajit Agarkar told reporters.

“Not just this season. He’s had a great start and to back it up in a competition as competitive and high-pressure, he’s a game-changer. We had high hopes for him and he’s picked himself.”

Shreyas Iyer will lead both assignments, replacing Suryakumar Yadav, who was dropped despite overseeing their victorious T20 World Cup campaign on home soil earlier this year.

Yadav scored 242 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 136.72 in the tournament though he had a decent IPL, averaging 20.76 with 13 knocks.

Talismanic fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, struggling during the IPL, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya has also sat out the tour, while uncapped fast bowler Prince Yadav has been called up.