Selectors should fast-track Vaibhav Suryavanshi for the T20 World Cup: Kris Srikkanth

Former Indian chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth has stated that the 14-year-old young opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi should be fast-tracked to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad after his 190-run knock against Arunachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’, Srikkanth also reckoned that Sachin Tendulkar made his India debut at a young age, adding that selectors can follow the same in Vaibhav’s case.

"Vaibhav is scoring centuries everywhere, be it the IPL, U19, anywhere. You can say it is against Arunachal Pradesh but that is a different story. This boy has been hammering everybody across all kinds of matches. I had told last year also that they should fast-track him for the T20 World Cup. Maybe it is too late for that now, but they still fast-track him into the team. This boy has got tremendous potential. He should be fast-tracked and brought into the Indian team soon," Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel 'Cheeky Cheeka'.

"People say let him play for some more time, let him do this, let him do that. Sachin also played a such a young age. Of course, he played for India after scoring hundreds at all levels, but the same thing can be done for this boy in white-ball cricket,” he added.

Furthermore, the former Indian cricketer requested the selectors to put the 14-year-old top-order batter in the reserves, terming him ‘an outstanding talent’. Additionally, he felt Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav could make a devastating opening pair in the mega event next year.

"Look at Suryavanshi's records. He is at a completely different level. He should not be left behind. He has to be fast-tracked soon. I heard some news that Rahul Dravid said that he should be fast-tracked now. I told this during the last IPL itself. At least have him in the reserves and give him a chance where possible. I don't want them to let go of this guy. In all fairness, he is an outstanding talent," he stated.

"Just imagine Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi opening. What a devastating pair it can be. Think about it. Or Ishan Kishan and Suryavanshi, or Ishan and Abhishek. These left-handers are more devastating and take the match away from you literally in the first six overs. That's how the team is. I feel the right-handers are like second fiddle," the former cricketer concluded.

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