Sports · Cricket · 17 hrs ago
Sehwag says Sooryavanshi’s attacking style reminds him of his own
Former India opener Virender Sehwag says 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reminds him of his own attacking approach to batting.
Sehwag was known for taking on bowlers from the start of an innings.
Sooryavanshi has scored 246 runs in eight T20 internationals, with a strike rate of 186.16.
He has not played in India’s first two T20Is against the West Indies, where Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened.
Sehwag said age should not decide a player’s place in top-level cricket once they are ready to compete.
India’s coaches have encouraged Sooryavanshi to learn from senior players while waiting for a chance.
His selection for the next match depends on the team’s combination and its assessment of the opening options.
Virender Sehwag said Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s approach of attacking from the first ball resembles his own batting style.
Sehwag said age should not matter once a player is competing in the IPL or for India, and that performance should determine selection.
The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi is waiting for an opportunity in India’s T20I series against the West Indies.
He has scored 246 runs in eight T20Is, at a strike rate of 186.16.
India has selected Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to open in the first two matches against the West Indies.
- Who
- Former India opener Virender Sehwag and 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- What
- Sehwag said Sooryavanshi’s attacking approach resembles his own. He also said performance, not age, should matter in top-flight cricket.
- When
- Sehwag spoke at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual session on Saturday; the articles were published on October 10 and 11, 2026.
- Where
- The annual session was held in New Delhi.
- Why
- Sehwag was discussing Sooryavanshi’s batting approach and his prospects of playing for India.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sooryavanshi is in his prime, and his thinking is somewhat similar to mine, that of hitting right from the first ball. Now, it is about when he gets the opportunity and how many matches he plays for India
But once you play in the IPL or play for India, age doesn’t matter. A 38-or 40-year-old Kohli is playing, and a 15-year-old Sooryavanshi is also playing. Then performance matters.
Sooryavanshi has a wide, unique range of shots. T20 comes easy to him. He should be kept in the T20 set-up, and at the same time, he should be groomed in domestic red-ball cricket
Sooryavanshi scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, according to Hindustan Times.
Sooryavanshi made his senior international debut against England at age 15 years and 99 days.
Sehwag discussed Sooryavanshi’s approach at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual session.
Sooryavanshi was not selected, with India retaining Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as its opening pair.
- Sooryavanshi’s age
- 15
- T20I record
- 246 runs in eight matches; average 30.75; strike rate 186.16
- Highest T20I score
- 81
- Sehwag’s international runs
- 17,253
- India’s opening pair
- Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the first two West Indies T20Is
Sources
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is like me, says Sehwag on fearless batting approach
"His Thinking Similar To Mine": Virender Sehwag's Big Verdict On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Virender Sehwag sees a bit of himself in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The explosive former batter compared his own thinking to the 15-year-old sensation
Sehwag sees shades of his own fearless style in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
‘His thinking similar to mine’: Sehwag on Sooryavanshi’s aggressive approach
‘He is somewhat similar to me’: Sehwag says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in his prime
Sehwag sees a reflection of himself in Sooryavanshi: His thinking is similar to mine
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