Don’t Give Him Such A Target: Ravi Ashwin On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India Debut Buzz After CSK Knock

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has once again set the IPL stage on fire with the pyrotechnics from his bat as he struck a 15-ball half-century, which helped Rajasthan Royals secure their first win of the new season. The 15-year-old was absolutely devastating, smashing bowlers all around the park at a strike rate of over 300. The left-hander's innings included 4 fours and 5 towering sixes.

This led many cricket experts and pundits like Mohammad Kaif and Michael Vaughan to believe in the post-match conference to the teenager is ready to be called up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. But, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has a very different and contrasting opinion to that.

What Did Ravi Ashwin Say About Sooryavanshi's India Debut?

According to the former Indian spinner, Sooryavanshi's debut should not be a rushed decision. Ashwin further said that the left-hander still has more than two decades of cricket ahead of him before he can be drafted into the national team.

"Don't give him such a target. He is not even a man, he is a kid. If MS Dhoni is playing until 45 [44], and if Sooryavanshi plays until 40, he has two and a half decades left in cricket. Leave him alone, he will come on his own when the time is right. He is too good not to play for India. He will play anyway eventually. When will he play? For that, we might have to wait a bit. Why are we always in a hurry?" Ashwin said post-match on his YouTube channel.

Sooryavanshi has impressed at every level he has played. After making his IPL debut last year, he became the youngest centurion in the tournament's history at just 14. Even before turning 15 recently, he had already shattered multiple records while representing India's Under-19 and A teams. However, Ashwin believes there is no need to fast-track his senior international debut.

On a challenging surface, Sooryavanshi stood out with a range of strokes that no other batter from either side could execute. His fearless shot-making left Ashwin thoroughly amazed. With him in the lineup, Ashwin believes the Royals possess a strong squad capable of mounting a serious title challenge this season.

"He turned 15 years old, so he scored a 15-ball 50 - he is showing his age. I mean, what a player he is! How fast is his bat speed? CSK had no answers against him; they looked a flat, deflated unit on the field. RR have put on such a dominating performance that they have said, 'Look at us, we are also a powerful team in this competition'," Ashwin asserted.