New Delhi: Vibhu Suryavanshi’s record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign has sparked the biggest selection debate in Indian cricket. The 15-year-old batting sensation from Samastipur in Bihar scored 776 runs in 16 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 237.31, while hitting a record 72 sixes during the season.The phenomenal run has prompted calls from several former cricketers for Surya Vinshi to be included in the Indian team as soon as possible. The debate has also revived comparisons with Sachin Tendulkarwho started his international career in 1989 at the age of 16.Adding to the debate recently, Sachin Tendulkar praised Suryavanshi’s talent and hoped that the youngster would eventually play Test cricket for India. However, the batting legend urged fans and pundits not to heap expectations on the youngster.Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrikar Rejecting direct comparisons between Tendulkar’s rise and Suryavanshi’s current journey has now added weight to the debate.“I don’t want to compare Tendulkar and Vibhu Suryavanshi. Tendulkar grew up in a different era. At the age of 14, he made a name for himself and was a young sensation in Red Ball cricket. He scored a century in his first Ranji game, first Duleep Trophy game and first Irani Trophy game. But he blew the cricket world by the age of 16.” It was easy to maintain the rhythm. This is the guy who is sensational in T20 cricket in IPL. So he is going about it in a different way,” Manjrekar told Sportsstar.Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days old when he made his international debut on 15 November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi. While many have cited this example in pushing for Suryavanshi’s inclusion in the national team, Manjrikar believes the two cases are fundamentally different.The former Indian cricketer said it was important not to complicate matters for the youngster and instead let him decide his career direction.“Like I said, let’s not complicate things for him and let him decide whether he wants to play Ranji Trophy cricket. He has to fight for his place in this team and let the state selectors decide whether he is going to add value and whether he is going to be a good enough player. But it’s really about what he wants to do,” he said.Manjrikar asserted that handling Suryavanshi’s career should not become a public project.“A lot of people are saying how should we handle Vibhu Suryavanshi and how will he do in red ball cricket? I don’t think it is our job to handle him or even BCCI’s job. Vibhu Suryavanshi is an individual and I am sure he has people around him who advise him, parents, coaches. It’s about what he wants to do in life,” he said.Acknowledging Suryavanshi’s immense T20 potential, Manjrikar said the youngster has multiple avenues available to him.“If he just wants to be a T20 sensation and focus on T20 cricket, then so be it. And that shouldn’t be held against him. But then you’ll just be treated as an exceptional T20 player.”At the same time, Manjrikar believes that Suryavanshi has the qualities to excel in the 50-over format as well.“If he plays 50-over cricket, I think it’s very important for him to bat in the first 10 overs and do what Rohit Sharma did in the 2023 World Cup even better than Rohit.The former batsman added that Suryavanshi’s future in Red Ball Cricket should be decided through the traditional route rather than based on his IPL achievements.“Three-day matches or four-day matches or five-day matches – he’s played a few first-class matches and I don’t think his record is very good. But time will tell and he really has to decide what he wants to be in life. Because if he wants to play red-ball cricket, it’s a bit unfair to pick him on those performances.”“While there may be some deserving players who have put in a lot of hard work in this Bihar Ranji Trophy team. I believe it is only up to Vibhu to decide what he wants to be as a batsman,” Manjrekar said.
