New Delhi: The remarkable rise of teenage sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi should now be rewarded with an India T20I cap, according to former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi, who believes the 15-year-old has already shown qualities that could one day make him a nightmare for Test bowlers.Fresh off an impressive IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan RoyalsSuryavanshi is set to become the youngest player in the Indian men’s squad. Sachin TendulkarHis debut in 1989. The left-handed opener scored 776 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 237.30 as he was earlier adjudged Player of the Tournament in India’s U-19 World Cup-winning campaign.“I think the way to handle it is to award him the India cap because the way he has performed in the last two years – he is hitting all the top bowlers in the world,” Gandhi told IANS.‘He can shift gears which is an alarm bell for world cricket’While Suryavanshi’s power hitting has garnered global attention, Gandhi was equally impressed by the youngster’s ability to adapt to different match situations.“It was good for me to see that in his last two innings, he scored 97 off 29 balls (in the eliminator) and then 96 in Qualifier 2, but in different conditions. Wickets were falling at the other end. He was rotating the strike,” Gandhi said. “So, if needed, he can change gears, which is more dangerous for world cricket, right?”“A guy who is smart enough to take singles, play situations, still maintain a 200-plus strike rate. So, for me, he has ticked all the boxes,” he added.Gandhi, however, feels there is still room for improvement, particularly in fielding, and stressed the importance of exposing Suryavanshi to 50-over and red-ball cricket through India A assignments.‘Test bowlers will have a heart attack’The former selector allowed himself to dream about the youngster’s potential in the longest format.“A player of this caliber definitely needs preparation and counseling. Can you imagine him playing a Test match with the same authority? Even half of that would be a joy to watch,” he said. “It will be the bowlers who will have a heart attack. They must be wondering how to stop this guy. He is absolutely fantastic.”“He is taking all the bowlers to the cleaners, be it spinners or fast bowlers. The authority with which he is batting pleases me. We are running out of adjectives and superlatives to praise him. He is simply mind-boggling,” he added.
