IPL 2026: Ajay Jadeja makes a bold call on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who captivated cricket fans everywhere with his magnificent performance in IPL 2026, continues to make headlines. Although his team faced defeat in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi displayed his batting prowess throughout the entire season. Thanks to his stellar performance, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, the Orange Cap (for scoring 776 runs), the Emerging Player of the Season award, the Super Striker of the Season award (with a strike rate of 237.3), and the Super Sixes of the Season award (for hitting 72 sixes).

Since the very early stages of this IPL season, fans have been persistently demanding his inclusion in Team India. Even several former cricketers are now strongly advocating for Vaibhav's inclusion in the T20I squad—a group that includes Virender Sehwag, who famously remarked, "If I were a Team India selector, I would induct Vaibhav into the Indian team today itself." Beyond Sehwag, legendary cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar have also become ardent admirers of this 15-year-old batsman.

Meanwhile, former Indian all-rounder Ajay Jadeja also addressed BCCI Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar during IPL 2026, asking, "If you don't bring Vaibhav into the team now, then when exactly will you play him? How could anyone possibly play any better than this? Let me tell you one thing: regardless of his age, who else could possibly perform better than him?"

“How much better can he perform? I saw the chairman and asked him ‘Mr. Chairman! When will you pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? If not now, then when? Irrespective of his age, how could anyone possibly bat better than this?” 

The BCCI Secretary also praised teenage sensation 15-year-old teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his exceptional performances throughout the season. Speaking to reporters, Saikia said, 

"It was a wonderful season... I hope all the fans have a lovely time during this IPL, and congratulations to RCB for winning the tournament consecutively twice. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a wonderful player coming up, and he has a bright future. BCCI will do everything to get him to the highest level of cricket." 

The 15-year-old Bihar-born batter had an extraordinary tournament for Rajasthan Royals, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 237.30. At just 15 years and 65 days old, Sooryavanshi also set a new IPL record as the youngest Orange Cap winner.