The rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket in recent months. He has scored runs in age cricket, domestic cricket, India A matches and IPL. Now, the 15-year-old is on the verge of another milestone – becoming India’s youngest international cricketer.India are expected to give Sooryavanshi his debut in the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast on Friday. If he plays, he will be 15 years and 91 days, making him younger than that Sachin Tendulkar was when he made his international debut against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16 years and 205 days. Sooryavanshi’s expected debut comes after a remarkable IPL season with the Rajasthan Royals. He finished as the highest run scorer of the tournament, making 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30.A few days before joining the senior India team, Sooryavanshi was in action for India A against Sri Lanka A, where he broke the record for the fastest half-century in List A cricket, reaching the landmark in just 11 balls.As the excitement around the youngster continues to grow, former India coach and Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid has shared his thoughts on the teenager.Speaking to the BBC, Dravid described Sooryavanshi as “a truly unique talent”“I think it’s an incredible combination of ability to take the speed of a bowler and then the cricket intelligence, without fear. It’s a healthy combination of things,” Dravid said.Dravid added: “I don’t think there is a recipe for making a Sooryavanshi, I don’t think you can take a child and say, do this, and he will become so good. There are certain things that are just gifted.”Dravid, however, said that Sooryavanshi’s success is not just about talent. He remembers working with him at Rajasthan Royals in 2025, when the youngster made his IPL debut at the age of 14.“But he also worked very hard, so it’s not just a gift. From a young age, he hit a lot of balls. I saw that in Rajasthan.”Dravid also stressed the importance of managing the teenager’s development carefully as he begins his international career.“I just hope that he is supported and helped on the journey to be able to realize that potential.”He added: “You need to protect someone like him, but it’s always going to be that fine line because sometimes you need to let someone fly.”
