Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for India, but not at Samson or Abhishek's cost: Irfan Pathan
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has thrown his weight behind Rajasthan Royals teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for an India call-up following his remarkable IPL 2026 campaign, but made it clear that the 15-year-old should not be fast-tracked by replacing current T20 openers Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma.
Speaking after Rajasthan Royals' exit from IPL 2026, Pathan said Sooryavanshi has done enough to earn consideration for the national team. However, he stressed that Samson and Abhishek have cemented their places at the top of the order and should continue as India's first-choice opening pair.
"Now, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are the current opening batters for India in T20 internationals, and you don't want to drop either of them from the opening slot so soon. They are proven players and have just won the T20 World Cup," Pathan said on Star Sports' Amul Cricket Live.
The former all-rounder suggested that selectors should gradually integrate Sooryavanshi into the national setup through opportunities arising from injuries, rotation policies or bilateral series, while preparing him for India's next T20 World Cup cycle.
Pathan said the Rajasthan Royals opener has already passed the toughest test by consistently delivering against some of the world's best bowlers in the IPL.
According to Pathan, Sooryavanshi has impressed against elite names including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj, proving that he can handle high-quality international-level attacks.
The left-handed batter has enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 season, scoring 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a staggering strike rate of 237.31. His campaign included 63 fours and 72 sixes, making him the tournament's leading run-scorer despite Rajasthan Royals falling short of the final.
What happened in RR vs GT Qualifier 2?
Sooryavanshi once again starred with the bat in Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans, smashing 96 off just 47 balls after Rajasthan Royals slipped to 9/2. His innings, along with Donovan Ferreira's unbeaten 38 off 11 deliveries, powered RR to 214/6.
However, Gujarat Titans produced a dominant chase led by captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. The pair added 167 runs for the opening wicket, with Gill scoring 104 off 53 balls and Sudharsan contributing 58 off 32. GT eventually chased down the 215-run target in 18.4 overs to book their place in the IPL 2026 final.
While Rajasthan's campaign ended in Qualifier 2, Sooryavanshi's performances have sparked fresh debate over a possible India debut.
With ANI inputs