Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets BCCI’s backing to build a career like Sachin Tendulkar

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning rise has prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a long-term view of his development, with secretary Devajit Saikia insisting the 15-year-old must be primed for sustained success. The board wants the teenage sensation to follow the path of legends like Sachin Tendulkar and build a lasting international career.

The future of Sooryavanshi was discussed at the conference High-level BCCI review meeting in Mumbai on Thursday. After the meeting, Saikia said the board is keeping a close eye on the youngster while his participation in the Duleep Trophy final will depend on the decision of India head coach Gautam Gambhir.

“We want Vaibhav Sooryavanshi or any player of his stature to go on and serve like Sachin Tendulkar for the country or other players who became legends in the past,” Saikia said.

“So we are looking at Vaibhav very seriously. He is being watched from every angle and every step he takes in his international career. BCCI is looking very closely at his future.”

Saikia has made it clear that the board’s priority is to protect Sooryavanshi’s long-term prospects rather than chasing immediate results.

“We are very careful to make every right step forward so that it is not a one-series or one-year miracle,” Saikia added.

The teenager has already experienced both the highs and the challenges that come with his rapid rise. After his sensational IPL 2026 campaign, Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest men’s international debutant, though his the first T20I series against England didn’t quite go as planned before replying with 151 runs in three matches against Zimbabwe.

FROM IPL SENSATION TO DULEEP RECORD

Sooryavanshi’s domestic form continued to attract attention. He scored 92 off 81 balls in the Duleep Trophy semi-final against Central Zone, he became the youngest batsman in the tournament’s history to register a half-century before adding a blistering 40 in the second innings as East Zone reached the final.

However, his place in the final remains subject to Gambhir’s call. East Zone will face South Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 6, with KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mohammed Siraj asked to play for South Zone. Sooryavanshi, along with Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan, will reportedly require Gambhir’s consent to be listed.

WATCHING BCCI NEXT GENERATION

Saikia revealed that Sooryavanshi is not the only youth being watched closely. Around 10-15 new players are part of the target group being monitored through BCCI’s center of excellence, with VVS Laxman involved in their training and skill development.

“We are looking at all players, not just Vaibhav’s relevance, but there are about 10-15 players in our target group,” Saikia said.

“They are constantly monitored by our COE chief VVS Laxman who is very interested in their future and their training and skill development.”

Sooryavanshi is currently part of India’s T20I squad for the upcoming three-match series against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on September 13, and will also travel as part of India’s Asian Games squad under coach VVS Laxman.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

04 Sep 2026 08:19 IST