Fast-tracking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to ODI team is not required: Reasons why hype around India wonderkid must reduce despite success vs Zimbabwe listed
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Fast-tracking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to ODI team is not required: Reasons why hype around India wonderkid must reduce despite success vs Zimbabwe listed originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Former BCCI official wants Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fast-tracked to the Indian ODI team.
- Sooryavanshi compared to Sanath Jayasuriya's 1996 World Cup heroics.
- India star finished as the highest run-scorer in the T20I series against Zimbabwe with 151 runs.
- Sooryavanshi missed out on a historic century against Zimbabwe in the third T20I.
Indian team management asked to fast-track Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to ODI team
Former cricket administrator Makarand Waingankar has urged the BCCI and the Indian cricket team management to fast-track Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the Indian ODI setup so that the young southpaw gets enough time to prepare for the next ODI World Cup in 2027.
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Sooryavanshi has been in the limelight since scoring his maiden IPL century for Rajasthan Royals in 2025. Since then, he has played for the India U-19 side and helped them win the U19 World Cup in 2026.
In his second season in the IPL with RR this year, Sooryavanshi emerged as the highest run scorer in the tournament and became the youngest player ever in IPL history to win the Orange Cap.
After his heroics with RR, the southpaw earned his maiden India call-up during the UK tour. After sitting out the Ireland series, the 15-year-old finally made his debut against England, although he failed to make a mark in the four matches he played.
The RR star, though, finally got to prove himself in the recently concluded Zimbabwe series, where he emerged as the highest run-scorer as the Men in Blue completed a whitewash.
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After the Zimbabwe series, Waingankar took to X and wrote, "Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be fast tracked for 2027 World Cup. With 14 months to go Indian selectors must work on the bench strength. No better talented batsman than this modern Sanath Jaysuriya who in the 1996 World Cup damaged the reputation of top quality bowlers."
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be fast tracked for 2027 World Cup. With 14 months to go Indian selectors must work on the bench strength. No better talented batsman than this modern Sanath Jaysuriya who in the 1996 World Cup damaged the reputation of top quality bowlers
— Makarand Waingankar (@wmakarand) July 25, 2026
MORE: India told to fast-track Sooryavanshi for 2027 ODI WC after IND vs ZIM exploits
Why fast-tracking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to ODI team is not required: Reason listed
While fans and experts have been vocal about fast-tracking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the Indian ODI team after being mesmerised by the youngster's batting, the hype around the wonderkid needs to dial down a bit.
Sooryavanshi has only started his journey with the national team and overexposing in international cricket might not be the brightest idea at the moment.
Here's why fast-tracking Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the ODI team is not required.
1) Yashasvi Jaiswal should be India's priority, not Vaibhav
At the moment, India's opening slot in the ODI team seems to be sealed. The pair of captain Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma has done wonders for the national team over the past few years and it seems the duo will continue to play at least until the 2027 ODI World Cup.
There was some chatter regarding Rohit Sharma's future with the Indian team during his rough patch on the England tour, but the veteran batter's stunning century at Lord's in the final ODI of the series completely shut down all the talk and silenced the critics.
As of now, Sharma will continue to partner the Indian captain at the top of the order and there is no scope for another player to take his place in the starting lineup.
As cover for the star opening pair, India already have Yashasvi Jaiswal in the pipeline and the management must look at the Rajasthan Royals southpaw as Sharma's long-term replacement in the ODI team as an opener.
Jaiswal has played quality knocks in the 50-over format whenever he has got a chance. In fact, in the last game he played against Afghanistan, the opener scored a century.
Yashasvi Jaiswal stats in ODI:
InningsRunsH.SAvg.S.R100s50s6285116*71.2597.6020MORE: 'Sooryavanshi is special': Pathan sends warning to Abhishek and Sanju
(getty)
2) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi yet to prove himself in the longer formats
While there is no doubt about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's immense talent, the youngster is yet to play enough games in the longer formats like ODIs and Tests at the domestic level.
Sooryavanshi must first play enough Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches for his state team in the next few years at the domestic level and prove that he is ready to bat for longer overs before he can be rushed into international cricket in ODIs.
Other than the U-19 World Cup earlier this year, Sooryavanshi has not played enough games to be called up to the ODI team. So the 2027 ODI World Cup remains a far cry for the youngster as of now.
MORE: Gambhir under scanner as Laxman-Iyer deliver Zimbabwe whitewash
3) Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must find his footing in T20Is before thinking about ODI cricket
Sooryavanshi has only played seven international matches for the Indian cricket team in the T20I format against England and Zimbabwe.
While the youngster has gained experience in the IPL and has faced some of the best bowlers in the world in the Indian T20 league, Sooryavanshi still has a long way to go in international cricket.
Right now, the 15-year-old must concentrate on improving his game in the T20I format and only after facing enough quality opposition and proving himself can he think about fighting for a spot in the ODI team.
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