Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set for all three formats soon, says Saba Karim
Synopsis
Former India selector Saba Karim has declared he is ‘dead sure’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will feature in all three formats for India soon — a bold prediction backed by the teenager’s record 776-run IPL 2026 campaign at a 237.30 strike-rate. With his debut against England now anticipated, the cricketing world is watching.
Key Takeaways
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs at a strike-rate of 237.30 in IPL 2026 , winning the Player of the Tournament award for Rajasthan Royals .
Former India selector Saba Karim said he is ‘dead sure’ Sooryavanshi will appear in all three formats for India “very soon.” Sooryavanshi was unused during India’s tour of Ireland , where India lost 2-0 ; his debut is now anticipated in the India vs England T20I series .
Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour assured Karim the youngster is fully equipped to handle short-pitched bowling at 145–150 kmph .
Sooryavanshi also holds a record score of 170-odd in the Under-19 World Cup final , underlining his pedigree before the IPL spotlight.
Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has captured the imagination of the global cricketing community, not just Indian fans, and his international debut is imminent across all three formats, according to former India selector and wicketkeeper Saba Karim. Karim made the remarks on JioStar ahead of the ongoing five-match T20I series between India and England.
A Season for the Ages
Sooryavanshi lit up IPL 2026 with 776 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30, earning him the Player of the Tournament award for Rajasthan Royals. Karim placed that performance in rare company. “In my opinion, in the history of the IPL, perhaps after that season of Virat Kohli when he scored so many runs, if one season has to be defined, it is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL, IPL 2026,” he said.
The left-handed teenager was unused during India’s tour of Ireland, where the side suffered a shock 2-0 series loss, making his anticipated debut against England all the more closely watched.
Karim’s Confidence in the Youngster
“Not only Indian fans but the entire world is waiting to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the same manner that he did in the IPL. I have high hopes for this young lad. Very soon, we will see him in all three formats. I am dead sure about it,” Karim said.
He recalled first hearing about Sooryavanshi before IPL 2025 through videos shared by coaches including Manish Ojha from the Patna academy. “I was just hoping that he would get a chance to play at least once because I wanted the world to see that India now has such a talented player,” Karim added. He noted that Sooryavanshi carried “no baggage whatsoever” on debut, dismissing a top-quality India-experienced bowler from the very first ball he faced.
No Second-Season Blues
Doubts had circulated that opposition analysts would decode Sooryavanshi’s game in his second IPL campaign, particularly with short-pitched deliveries at 145–150 kmph. Karim said he never shared those concerns, citing a conversation with Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour. “I asked him if Vaibhav could find it challenging against top-quality bowling or short-pitched deliveries at 145-150 clicks. He said, ‘Saba, just wait and watch.’”
This came even after Sooryavanshi had scored a record 170-odd in the Under-19 World Cup final, a performance that had already flagged him as a generational talent.
The Tactical Evolution
Karim highlighted Sooryavanshi’s high cricketing IQ as his defining trait. “He realises very quickly where the bowlers might target him, takes a few balls to assess whether he has the shots in his armoury to score against those deliveries, and prepares accordingly,” he explained.
In IPL 2026, that adaptability manifested in an expanded shot repertoire — the upper cut against short deliveries, drives through the covers off a strong base, lofted shots over long-off and cover, and inside-out strokes. “Whatever the conditions are, whatever the bowling attack is, he is ready,” Karim concluded.
What to Watch Next
With the India vs England T20I series ongoing, all eyes are on whether the national selectors hand Sooryavanshi his debut cap. A strong showing here could accelerate his path into the ODI and Test squads, validating Karim’s prediction that the teenager will feature across all three formats in the near future.
Point of View
And his read on the teenager’s second-season resilience proved correct. But the real question mainstream coverage is glossing over is the sequencing: T20Is first is logical, yet India’s ODI and Test middle order already has queues. Sooryavanshi’s shot-making genius in the powerplay is undisputed; whether his technique holds against red-ball seam in English conditions is the test that will define whether this is a white-ball phenomenon or a complete cricketer. The selectors’ willingness to fast-track him across formats — as Karim predicts — will signal how much India has learned from the cautious mismanagement of earlier teenage prodigies.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi achieve in IPL 2026?
Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs at a strike-rate of 237.30 for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, winning the Player of the Tournament award. It was widely regarded as one of the finest individual IPL seasons in the tournament’s history.
When is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi expected to make his India debut?
Sooryavanshi is expected to debut during the ongoing five-match T20I series against England . He was part of the squad for the Ireland series but went unused as India suffered a 2-0 loss.
Why is Saba Karim confident Sooryavanshi will play all three formats?
Karim cited the teenager’s high cricketing IQ, rapid adaptability, and expanded shot repertoire as reasons for his confidence. He also noted reassurances from Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour that Sooryavanshi is equipped to handle any bowling attack.
Did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struggle with second-season blues in IPL 2026?
No. Despite predictions that opposition analysts would target him with short-pitched bowling, Sooryavanshi thrived in IPL 2026. He added new shots — including the upper cut, inside-out drives, and lofted strokes — to counter those plans effectively.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Under-19 record?
Sooryavanshi scored a record 170-odd in the Under-19 World Cup final , a performance that first signalled his potential as a generational batting talent before he made his mark in the IPL.
