‘He is somewhat similar to me’: Sehwag says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in his prime

Former India opener Virender Sehwag sees a bit of himself in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach to batting, saying the teenage sensation is in his prime and should get as many opportunities as possible to build a long international career. The 15-year-old has already made an impression in T20Is, scoring 246 runs in eight matches at a blistering strike rate of 186. Sehwag, who amassed 17,253 international runs during his career, believes Sooryavanshi’s attacking mindset is reminiscent of his own approach at the crease. “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,” Sehwag said during a discussion at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual session on Saturday.

‘Performance matters’: Sehwag on Sooryavanshi’s age

The former India opener also dismissed concerns over Sooryavanshi’s age, arguing that performances should determine a player's place once they reach the highest level. “Look, if you are playing in an age-category, it makes sense — if it's Under-19, your age should be under 19. But once you play the IPL or play for India, age doesn't matter. “A 38-or 40-year-old (Virat) Kohli is playing, and a 15-year-old (Vaibhav) Sooryavanshi is also playing. Then, performance matters,” Sehwag said. Sooryavanshi has featured in eight of India's 18 T20Is since joining the senior set-up, with competition for the opening slots remaining intense. Experienced Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have been India's preferred opening combination in recent matches.

Former India all-rounder Robin Singh has also backed healthy competition for places, stressing that young players need a sustained run but must be patient when others are performing well. “Sooryavanshi has enough and more talent. So, you know, even if he has to sit on a bench and wait it out, it's okay. But the others have done very well,” Robin told IANS. “It's good to have competition. It's good to have people beating down your neck so that you don't slip up with your performances,” he added.

Sehwag backs India’s World Cup hopes

Sehwag also praised Shubman Gill for his recent batting exploits, including his second ODI double century, and backed India's bowling attack to play a decisive role at the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. “Among our fast bowlers, we have Bumrah , who is the best we have. If our bowling attack stays strong in the World Cup, then we can win it very easily,” he said.