Vaibhav Sooryavanshi receives Test cricket backing amid senior team commitments

Indian cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has received backing from Australian legend Steve Waugh to succeed in red-ball cricket, despite a challenging start to his international career. Following a record-breaking IPL 2026 season with the Rajasthan Royals, where he won the Orange Cap and Most Valuable Player awards, Sooryavanshi debuted for India in a T20I series against England. While he struggled in that series, he later delivered a Player-of-the-Series performance during a tour of Zimbabwe.

Waugh described the teenager as a “freakish talent” capable of playing Test cricket, though he noted the importance of gaining more first-class experience due to Sooryavanshi's current average of 16.53 in that format.

Regarding his recent absence from India’s U19 squad for the upcoming series against Australia, selectors confirmed the omission is due to his senior international commitments. Sooryavanshi has been named in India’s 15-member squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, which coincides with the U19 schedule.