Mohammad Kaif urges Ajit Agarkar to hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an ODI call-up aft – Mohammad Kaif Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India ODI Call-Up After IPL Heroics
A New Star Emerges in IPL 2026
The 2026 Indian Premier League has served as a grand stage for the next generation of cricketing talent, but perhaps no name is shining brighter than Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. At just 15 years old, the Rajasthan Royals prodigy has captured the imagination of the global cricket fraternity, delivering performances that defy his age. With every match, he seems to be rewriting the record books, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with.
The Eliminator Masterclass
Sooryavanshi’s most recent display of dominance came during the IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad in New Chandigarh. Facing a high-pressure scenario, the left-handed batter played with a level of maturity and ferocity that left seasoned bowlers searching for answers. In an explosive innings, he hammered 97 runs off just 29 deliveries, a knock punctuated by 12 towering sixes and five boundaries.
This performance was not merely a display of power hitting; it was a historic milestone. With his six-hitting spree, Vaibhav surpassed Chris Gayle’s legendary record for the most sixes in a single IPL season. While Gayle’s 59 sixes in the 2012 season stood as the gold standard for over a decade, the teenager has elevated the benchmark to 65, and counting.
Mohammad Kaif Advocates for an International Call-Up
The impact of this performance has reached the highest echelons of Indian cricket commentary. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has publicly urged selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar to consider Sooryavanshi for national duty. Kaif’s assessment is bold: he believes the youngster is not only ready for T20Is but is also a prime candidate for the ODI format.
“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can play two formats right now. ODI and T20. He can play ODI as well,” Kaif stated. “He will also hit a lot of sixes in the first 10 overs in ODIs. So, I am looking at ODI, where 5 fielders are always up. And it doesn’t matter if the fielder is up. He is hitting long sixes.”
A Shift in Perspective
Kaif admitted that witnessing the teenager’s fearlessness has fundamentally changed his own philosophy regarding the development of young cricketers. Historically, Kaif adhered to a more traditional approach, favoring a long-term grooming process where youngsters spend time in the dugout to absorb the nuances of the professional game before being thrust into the spotlight.
“When I was coaching or was the captain for the team, I was against giving young players a chance so soon. I said, keep him for a year or two. He will see. He will sit in the dugout. He will learn a bit. But the way Vaibhav is playing, I have to change my thinking and words,” Kaif confessed.
Fearless Against Elite Bowling
What sets Sooryavanshi apart is his refusal to be intimidated by reputation. Throughout the 2026 season, he has compiled 680 runs, showing no hesitation against the world’s elite bowlers. From the pace of Jasprit Bumrah to the tactical acumen of Pat Cummins, the guile of Kagiso Rabada, and the accuracy of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vaibhav has taken on everyone with equal composure.
As Rajasthan Royals head into Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans, the eyes of the nation remain firmly fixed on the teenager. Whether the selectors choose to fast-track him into the Indian side immediately or continue his development within the franchise circuit, one thing is clear: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has arrived, and the future of Indian cricket looks incredibly bright.
