Jayasuriya Praises Sooryavanshi’s Unique Talent
Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya has praised young Indian batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, calling him a “different kind of talent” and saying he could have a bright future in Indian cricket. However, Jayasuriya believes the teenager should be given enough time to develop instead of being rushed into India’s playing XI.
Sooryavanshi, who is only 15, was included in India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. However, he did not get an opportunity to play in the series, as India continued with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma at the top of the batting order.
Speaking at the launch of the Corporate World Cup in Gurugram, Jayasuriya said Sooryavanshi has plenty of time to build his career. He said opportunities will come and that the young batter should be allowed to take advantage of them when they arrive.
Jayasuriya also said he could not comment on India’s selection decisions or batting combination. Instead, he praised Sooryavanshi’s ability and said the teenager could make the most of his chances when given an opportunity.
The former Sri Lankan captain also highlighted the strong competition for places in the Indian team. Players such as Samson and Abhishek have to continue performing because there are several talented players waiting for opportunities. This competition is part of the high standards maintained in Indian cricket across different formats.
Sooryavanshi has already attracted attention after his performances in international cricket. He scored 151 runs in India’s 3-0 T20I series win over Zimbabwe in July, including two half-centuries.
After the Afghanistan series, Sooryavanshi remained part of India’s plans for the 2026 Asian Games. The BCCI’s updated Asian Games squad includes him along with players such as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.
India also travelled to Japan for a T20I on September 22 ahead of the Asian Games. Sooryavanshi was part of the squad, although he did not feature in India’s two-run victory over Japan.
Jayasuriya’s comments add to the discussion around how India should manage one of its youngest international cricketers. His view is that Sooryavanshi has time on his side and should be given opportunities to develop naturally while continuing to learn from the senior players around him.