Mohammad Kaif urges Ajit Agarkar to hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an ODI call-up aft – Mohammad Kaif Urges Ajit Agarkar to Call Up Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for ODIs

The Rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: A New Era in Indian Cricket

The IPL 2026 has introduced a phenomenal new hero to the cricketing world. At just 15 years of age, Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is playing a brand of fearless cricket that has captured the global imagination. Breaking records in almost every match, the left-handed prodigy is rapidly being anointed as the next big superstar of Indian cricket.

His breathtaking form reached a new climax on Wednesday, May 27, during the high-pressure IPL 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad in New Chandigarh. In an innings that defied his tender age, Vaibhav completely dismantled the SRH bowling attack, smashing a jaw-dropping 97 runs off only 29 deliveries.

A Record-Shattering Night in New Chandigarh

The Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers had absolutely no answers as Vaibhav entertained the crowd with non-stop sixes all around the ground. The youngster hammered 12 massive sixes and five boundaries during his explosive stay at the crease. With this stunning performance, the teenage sensation also etched his name into the tournament’s history books.

During his knock, Vaibhav officially broke cricket legend Chris Gayle’s all-time IPL record for the most sixes hit in a single season. The “Universe Boss” had previously set the benchmark in IPL 2012 by hitting 59 sixes. Vaibhav has now bypassed that historic milestone, accumulating an incredible 65 sixes over the course of the IPL 2026 season.

On the back of this destructive innings, the Rajasthan Royals completed a dominant 47-run victory over SRH, booking their spot in Qualifier 2. They are scheduled to face the Gujarat Titans on May 29, with the winner moving on to challenge Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the highly anticipated IPL 2026 final.

Mohammad Kaif’s Bold Call: Ready for the International Stage

Vaibhav’s relentless batting has forced former India batsman Mohammad Kaif to make a major statement. Kaif believes the teenage opener is already fully prepared to make his international debut for India. Surprisingly, the cricket pundit emphasized that Vaibhav is ready to transition into both T20I and ODI cricket immediately, citing his supreme ability to exploit fielding restrictions during the powerplay.

According to Kaif, the youngster’s natural six-hitting capability could prove even more devastating in the 50-over format, where field restrictions offer aggressive batters additional freedom to dominate.

Speaking in a recent video, Mohammad Kaif stated: “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can play two formats right now. ODI and T20. He can play ODI as well. He will also hit a lot of sixes in the first 10 overs in ODIs. So, I am looking at ODI, where 5 fielders are always up. And it doesn’t matter if the fielder is up. He is hitting long sixes.”

Challenging Old-School Selection Philosophies

The sheer impact of Vaibhav’s batting has forced Kaif to re-evaluate his own coaching and selection principles. Known for his traditional, conservative approach to developing young players, the former Indian batter admitted that the 15-year-old’s unique talent demanded an exception to the rule.

“I am looking at two formats,” Kaif explained. “And I am saying this because I am an old-school guy. When I was coaching or was the captain for the team, I was against giving young players a chance so soon. I said, keep him for a year or two. He will see. He will sit in the dugout. He will learn a bit. But the way Vaibhav is playing, I have to change my thinking and words.”

Fearless Against the World’s Best Bowlers

What has impressed pundits most is Vaibhav’s complete lack of intimidation when facing some of the premier fast bowlers in modern cricket. Having amassed an incredible 680 runs so far this season, the young left-hander has taken on elite international stars without hesitation.

Whether facing the pinpoint yorkers of Jasprit Bumrah, the raw pace of Kagiso Rabada, the tactical skill of Pat Cummins, or the dangerous swing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vaibhav has consistently maintained his aggressive, front-foot approach.

Kaif concluded his high praise by noting this remarkable composure: “You see, he is not leaving any bowler, whether it is Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, or Bhuvneshwar Kumar.”

As chief selector Ajit Agarkar looks to build the future of India’s white-ball squads, the calls to fast-track Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are growing louder. If his current trajectory is any indication, the teenage prodigy could find himself wearing the national colors sooner rather than later.