Sehwag sees a reflection of himself in Sooryavanshi: His thinking is similar to mine

Virender Sehwag sees his fearless, attack-from-the-first-ball approach in teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and believes performance, not age, should determine a player's place in Indian cricket.Virender Sehwag sees a reflection of himself in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Courtesy: Reuters/PTINew Delhi,Oct 10, 2026 19:54 ISTFormer India opener Virender Sehwag sees a glimpse of his own fearless batting philosophy in teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose aggressive approach has made him one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket. Sehwag believes the youngster’s instinct to attack from the very first ball sets him apart and could help him establish himself at the highest level.Speaking during a discussion at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual session on Saturday, the 47-year-old backed Sooryavanshi to make the most of his opportunities for India. The former opener also stressed that age should not be a barrier for a player capable of performing at the highest level.“Sooryavanshi is in his prime, and his thinking is somewhat similar to mine, that of hitting right from the first ball. Now, it is about when he gets the opportunity and how many matches he plays for India,” Sehwag said.The former India batter dismissed concerns about the teenager’s age, pointing to the contrast between Sooryavanshi and veteran Virat Kohli. “Look, if you are playing in an age-category, it makes sense — if it’s Under-19, your age should be under 19. But once you play the IPL or play for India, age doesn’t matter. A 38- or 40-year-old (Virat) Kohli is playing, and a 15-year-old (Vaibhav) Sooryavanshi is also playing. Then, performance matters,” Sehwag said.SOORYAVANSHI AWAITS A CONSISTENT RUNSooryavanshi made his senior international debut in July 2026 against England, becoming India’s youngest international cricketer at 15 years and 99 days. He scored 14 off 10 balls in his debut T20I in Manchester, showcasing his attacking instincts even as India suffered a defeat. However, the youngster has yet to become a regular fixture in India’s playing XI. Although he has remained part of the squad, team combinations and competition for the opening slots have limited his opportunities. He was also left out of India’s XI for the fifth T20I against England and missed the first two T20Is against the West Indies.Sooryavanshi featured in the semifinal and final of the Asian Games, scoring 38 against Sri Lanka and 15 against Pakistan, respectively. In eight T20Is so far, the left-handed batter has scored 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, with a highest score of 81.- Ends