Vaibhav Sooryavanshiโs long-awaited India debut finally arrived on Saturday, July 4, at the iconic Old Trafford in Manchester, a venue etched in Indian cricket history. The ground holds special significance for fans, as it is where Sachin Tendulkar, once the youngest debutant in Indian cricket, scored his maiden international century against England in Tests.
Sooryavanshi made an immediate impact with a lively cameo, even if it was a short one. The Rajasthan Royals opener, who became Indiaโs youngest-ever international debutant at just 15 years and 99 days, lasted 10 balls and scored 14 runs. His brief innings included two towering sixes that instantly got the crowd talking.
The left-hander opened his boundary account in style by launching Rajasthan Royals teammate Jofra Archer for a huge six, showing the kind of fearless intent that has made him one of the most talked-about young batters in the country. That blow also took his six-hitting tally for 2026 to 75, placing him among the most prolific power-hitters in T20 cricket this year.
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Sooryavanshi added another maximum soon after, going even bigger against Josh Tongue with a clean strike over long-on. That brought his six count in 2026 to 76, underlining the explosive reputation he built during his rapid rise through domestic and franchise cricket.
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Proof that #VaibhavSooryavanshi is built different. ๐คฏ#ENGvIND 2nd T20I ๐ Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/Q5et8S5dXT
โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 4, 2026
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Just the beginning, #VaibhavSooryavanshi smashes his FIRST INTERNATIONAL SIX FOR INDIA! ๐#ENGvIND 2nd T20I ๐ Streaming LIVE on JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/5Qa9iPRJ0x
โ Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 4, 2026
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However, the fireworks did not last long. England captain Harry Brook brought on spinner Will Jacks, and the change of pace caught the youngster out. Sooryavanshi charged down the track, missed the ball, and was stumped by Jos Buttler for 14. It was a sharp reminder that international cricket demands not only aggression but also patience and adaptation.
Still, the debut was a landmark moment for the Bihar-born batter, who entered the senior India setup on the back of a stunning run of form. He had earlier become the youngest Orange Cap winner in IPL 2026 after piling up 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3 and smashing 72 sixes. Rajasthan Royals had retained him โนRs 1.1 crore ahead of the season.
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Sooryavanshiโs rise was further boosted by his performances for India A in Sri Lanka, where he helped win a tri-series and scored a record-breaking 11-ball List A fifty en route to 94 last month.ย At the other end, Abhishek Sharma kept India moving with 43 off 23 balls, building on his explosive 59 in the series opener. By the time he fell to Sam Curran, India had raced to 65 for 2 in six overs after Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first.
