In a stirring endorsement, ex-India cricketer Saba Karim has declared that the moment is ripe to elevate teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to the senior national team. The left-handed batting whiz from Bihar is on a dream run, dominating the Under-19 circuit ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
His scores of 72, 40, and 52 in recent U19 World Cup 2026 matches underline his class. Speaking exclusively, Karim gushed, ‘Vaibhav is a rare talent. I’m thrilled by his performances. He belongs in the Indian team immediately.’
The youngster isn’t flying under the radar. ‘State bodies, BCCI’s excellence center, and Rajasthan Royals are all invested in his development. His national team debut is just around the corner,’ Karim noted.
Suryavanshi etched his name in IPL folklore last year. Playing for RR in IPL 2025, the 14-year-old hammered a century off 35 balls against GT, becoming the tournament’s youngest ton-maker and second-fastest overall. Only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball blitz for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013 stands ahead.
With the T20 World Cup kicking off on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, Karim backed the senior side. ‘Our T20 and white-ball teams are powerhouses. World Cup triumph is within reach. Tests require more focus.’
This call from a seasoned voice like Karim could accelerate Suryavanshi’s trajectory, blending youth with experience in India’s cricketing arsenal.