Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stands on the cusp of history, with the 15-year-old set to make his senior India debut in the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast this week.
The Bihar-born opener earned his maiden call-up on the back of a record-shattering IPL 2026 campaign and a dream run for India A.
The BCCI presented Sooryavanshi with his first senior India jersey at the team hotel. The teenager admitted he could scarcely process the occasion, having dreamed of pulling on the India blue since he first picked up a bat as a child.
Should he take the field at Stormont on June 26 or 28, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest men’s international cricketer to represent India, breaking a record held by Sachin Tendulkar for over three decades.
The anticipation around his debut has gripped Indian cricket like few prospects before him.
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s journey to the senior team
Sooryavanshi first announced himself as the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket and a teenage Ranji Trophy debutant before exploding onto the global stage in IPL 2026.
He amassed 776 runs in 16 matches for the Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate of 237.30, winning the Orange Cap, MVP, and Emerging Player awards.
His record-breaking IPL haul included one century, five fifties, and a record 72 sixes in a single edition, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous mark. The left-hander then carried that form into India A duty, smashing 94 off 29 balls in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A.
That innings featured the fastest fifty in List A history, reached in just 11 deliveries, and convinced the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to fast-track him into the senior squad for the tours of Ireland and England, plus the Asian Games.
India vs Ireland: Match details and schedule
India plays two T20Is against Ireland at Stormont in Belfast on June 26 and June 28 before a five-match series against England from July 1 to 11.
Lorcan Tucker leads a depleted Ireland side missing several first-choice players through injury.
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | June 26 | Stormont, Belfast | 1:30 PM |
| 2nd T20I | June 28 | Stormont, Belfast | 1:30 PM |
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s jersey number revealed
Sooryavanshi will wear the No. 03 jersey for India, a number previously associated with the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina.
In Indian cricket, newcomers may choose any vacant number that is neither held by an active player nor retired in honour of a legend.
He received the shirt from throwdown specialist Raghu at the team hotel, and the BCCI shared the emotional video on social media. The board has also made a special provision to allow Sooryavanshi’s parents to accompany him on the tours of Ireland and England, covering all expenses given his age.
“Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practice, I dreamed of this moment. I cannot explain this feeling in words. The moment I saw that T-shirt, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.
Ladies & Gentlemen
The moment the nation has been waiting for has arrived!
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in #TeamIndia jersey. Witness this incredibly special moment ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sUUytFMPVw
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 23, 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scores in last 5 matches
Sooryavanshi’s recent form across India A’s tri-series in Sri Lanka shows a player who took time to find his feet before exploding in the final, capping the run with his record-breaking 94.
| Series | Opposition | Score |
|---|---|---|
| India A Tri-series final | Sri Lanka A | 94 (29) |
| India A Tri-series | Afghanistan A | 38 (28) |
| India A Tri-series | Sri Lanka A | 14 (12) |
| India A Tri-series | Afghanistan A | 44 (22) |
| India A Tri-series | Sri Lanka A | 14 (12) |
Youngest Indians to play for the national team
Sooryavanshi, at 15 years and 87 days, has already become the youngest player ever selected for a senior India men’s squad. A debut would see him break Tendulkar’s long-standing record as India’s youngest men’s international cricketer across all formats.
| Player | Age at debut | Format | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi* | 15y 87d | T20I | 2026 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 16y 205d | Test | 1989 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 16y 238d | ODI | 1989 |
| Washington Sundar | 18y 80d | T20I | 2017 |
| Parthiv Patel | 17y 152d | Test | 2002 |
How to watch India vs Ireland 1st T20I
Indian fans can watch the India vs Ireland 1st T20I live on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST on Friday, June 26.
| Country | TV channel | Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| India | Sony Sports Network | SonyLIV |
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