Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's father joins him in Sri Lanka; parents may travel to UK and Ireland
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has arranged for Sanjeev, father of 15-year-old left-handed batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, to travel to Sri Lanka ahead of the 50-over tri-series beginning 9 June in Dambulla, and has offered to extend the same support for the upcoming T20I tours of the UK and Ireland. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the arrangements on Sunday, 7 June, describing them as part of the board's commitment to easing the teenager's transition into senior cricket.
BCCI's Welfare Arrangements for the Young Prodigy
Saikia said the decision was driven by a straightforward principle: ensuring no young player feels out of place in an unfamiliar environment. 'Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's father is arriving today in Sri Lanka and we'll offer him that if he wants to go to the UK and Ireland also, we'll do that,' Saikia said. He added that the board wants Sooryavanshi to 'get used to being in the new situation,' noting that the teenager had previously always travelled with under-19 or junior squads — a very different dynamic from a senior men's touring party.
'It's because otherwise he was always traveling with his under 19, junior boys or the sub junior boys team. It meant that he was in the comfort zone. But now he will be in the adult world and we want to make him comfortable, as he is a 15-year-old kid,' Saikia explained. The BCCI has made clear the arrangement is subject to the family's own convenience and willingness.
Sooryavanshi's Rapid Rise to Senior Cricket
Sooryavanshi's elevation to India's senior T20I squad — confirmed on Saturday, 6 June — follows a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals (RR), in which he amassed 776 runs to finish as the tournament's leading scorer. His haul included one century and five half-centuries. He was named winner of five individual awards: Emerging Player of the Season, Most Valuable Player, Orange Cap, best season strike rate, and most sixes hit in an IPL season. Rajasthan Royals finished third in the tournament, exiting after a defeat in Qualifier 2.
Prior to IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi was a key figure in India's U19 World Cup triumph, which further raised his profile. He is currently in Sri Lanka as part of the India 'A' squad for the tri-series.
On the Cusp of a Historic Debut
Should Sooryavanshi make his international debut on the upcoming tour, he would become India's youngest-ever international cricketer, surpassing a record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted for India at 16 years and 205 days in 1989. The prospect has added a layer of historic significance to what is already an extraordinary story of early-age achievement in Indian cricket.
What Saikia Said on BCCI's Responsibility
'See, we have some responsibility on us — that nobody should feel uncomfortable or alien in a new environment. That is our basic principle so that he adjusts gradually to being in the senior team,' Saikia said. He stressed that the parental support arrangement is not a precedent-setting policy but a considered response to the unique circumstances of fielding a 15-year-old in elite men's cricket. As the tour calendar progresses, all eyes will be on whether Sooryavanshi earns a debut cap — and whether he does so before turning 16.