Sehwag sees his reflection in Sooryavanshi: His mindset is similar to mine

Former India opener Virender Sehwag sees a glimpse of his own fearless batting philosophy in teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose aggressive approach has made him one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket. Sehwag believes the youngster’s instinct to attack from the first ball sets him apart and could help him make it at the highest level.

During a discussion at the annual meeting of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday, the 47-year-old backed Sooryavanshi to make the most of his opportunity for India. The former opener also emphasized that age should not be a barrier for a player capable of performing at the highest level.

“Sooryavanshi is in his prime and his mindset is somewhat similar to mine, to strike from the first ball. Now it’s about when he gets the opportunity and how many matches he plays for India,” Sehwag said.

The former India batsman dismissed concerns over the teenager’s age and pointed to the contrast between Sooryavanshi and veteran Virat Kohli.

“Look, if you’re playing in an age category, it makes sense – if it’s under 19, your age should be under 19. But once you’re playing in the IPL or playing for India, age doesn’t matter. A 38-year-old or 40-year-old (Virat) Kohli is playing and it’s about the performance of a 15-year-old (Vaivanshi, then Seory is also playing.”

SOORYAVANSHI EXPECTS A CONSISTENT RUN

Sooryavanshi made his senior debut in July 2026 against England where he became India’s youngest international cricketer at the age of 15 years and 99 days. He scored 14 off 10 balls in his T20I debut in Manchester and showed his attacking instincts even as India suffered a defeat.

However, the youngster is yet to become a regular in the Indian playing eleven. Although he remained part of the roster, team combinations and competition for starting slots limited his opportunities. He was also left out of the Indian XI for the fifth T20I against England and missed the first two T20Is against the West Indies.

Sooryavanshi featured in the semi-finals and final of the Asian Games, scoring 38 against Sri Lanka and 15 against Pakistan. In eight T20Is so far, the left-handed batsman has scored 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, with a top score of 81.

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