Nasser Hussain Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India White-Ball Debut

A record-breaking IPL campaign

Sooryavanshi finished IPL 2026 with 776 runs in 16 matches at a blistering strike rate of 237.30, smashing 72 sixes — the most ever hit in a single IPL edition. He walked away with both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award, drawing comparisons to some of the game’s all-time greats.

The teenager has received praise from batting legends Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri, while Virat Kohli has also been left impressed. Hussain recalled watching a young Tendulkar step out at the Nehru Cup, drawing a direct parallel to Sooryavanshi’s current rise. “If you can impress Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, you’ve impressed everyone,” he said.

Next step: India A and beyond

Hussain acknowledged the challenges ahead — performing away from home, against moving deliveries, and managing inevitable dips in form — but maintained that Sooryavanshi needs international exposure to accelerate his development before a major world event.

Sooryavanshi has already been named in the India A squad for an upcoming tri-series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan beginning June 9, marking the next step in a career that looks destined for the highest level.