GUWAHATI: Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi on Saturday, July 4, became the youngest player to represent India in international cricket after making his debut in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford.
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The left-handed batter was handed his maiden international cap by Tilak Varma ahead of the match. India captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed at the toss that Suryavanshi had replaced opener Sanju Samson in the playing XI.
At 15 years and 99 days, Suryavanshi broke the long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at 16 years and 205 days in a Test against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989.
He also surpassed Shafali Verma to become the youngest Indian cricketer overall to make an international debut. Shafali was 15 years and 239 days old when she debuted in a T20I against South Africa in September 2019.
Suryavanshi also eclipsed Washington Sundar's record as India's youngest men's T20I debutant. Sundar was 18 years and 80 days old when he made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2017.
The teenager was part of India's squad for the two-match T20I series against Ireland in June but did not feature in either match. He earned his first international cap against England after the opening T20I in Chester-le-Street was washed out.
Backing the youngster's inclusion, captain Shreyas Iyer praised Suryavanshi's temperament and confidence.
"You've seen him in the past couple of months. How he takes on bowlers shows his confidence. No pressure to play him. He deserves the spot," Iyer said.
"He doesn't take pressure at all. He's unflinching and good to have him around. He's aware of what'll come in these matches. He's got a calm demeanour, and the way he bats in the nets shows what sort of character he is," he added.
Suryavanshi earned national selection after an outstanding Indian Premier League season, where he finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer and became the youngest-ever winner of the Orange Cap.
While he is now the youngest player to represent India in international cricket and the youngest to debut for a Full Member nation in men's T20Is, he is not the youngest men's T20I debutant overall. That record belongs to Romania's Marian Gherasim, who made his international debut at 14 years and 16 days in 2020.