Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut can wait: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image: IPL/BCCI) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s sensational 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator has sparked massive calls on social media for an immediate India debut. However, former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra believes that the teenage sensation still has plenty of time on his side.Rajasthan Royals stormed into Qualifier 2 with an impressive 47-run win over SRH after Sooryavanshi’s breathtaking innings propelled them to a mammoth total of 243/8. In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad were bowled out for 196, with Jofra Archer superbly leading the bowling attack during the powerplay.Speaking on Star Sports’ JioStar, Aakash Chopra praised the 15-year-old’s extraordinary talent but advised him to be patient about his India call-up.“The next World Cup is still two years away. There is plenty of time. Yes, the idea of ​​picking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India based on his IPL performances is exciting. You can’t just ignore what he is doing because IPL is India’s biggest T20 tournament and he is breaking records everywhere,” said Akash. “You have to take him seriously. He is exceptional, without any doubt. But you don’t make changes just for the sake of it. For someone to come in, someone else has to fail first. If players are already performing consistently, why would you replace them just because a youngster scored a lot?,” he added. “Right now, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are the best performers. You won’t replace them immediately. Otherwise, in two or three years, if Vaibhav goes through a lean patch, another youngster will be pushed in front of him in the same way. The selectors – Ajit Agarkar, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha – will definitely feel the pressure, but what is the best decision for them, they will think. Vaibhav’s India debut may not happen tomorrow. He is only 15 years,” concluded Chopra.