Sooryavanshi, who was the Player of the Tournament in India winning the 2026 U19 Men\u2019s Cricket World Cup, is poised to become the youngest cricketer in an India men\u2019s squad since Sachin Tendulkar\u2019s debut in 1989. He had an outstanding time while playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, where he amassed 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. Sooryavanshi, 15, will next turn out for India A in the 50-over tri\u2011series against Afghanistan \u2018A\u2019 and hosts Sri Lanka \u2018A\u2019 from June 9 to 21 in Dambulla.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think the way to handle him is reward him with an India cap because the way he's performed in the last two years - he's hitting all the top bowlers of the world. In the first year, a lot of people said that was the first year. But look at the way he's hitting. He's hitting in front, right? He's playing all authentic shots.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"What was heartening for me to see is that if you remember his last two knocks, he got 27-ball 94 (97). In the last game, in Qualifier 2 where RR lost, he got 90-odd (96). But in different circumstances, right? There were wickets falling from the other end. He was rotating the strike. So, if required, he can shift gears, which is more alarming for world cricket, right?\" Gandhi said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead, Gandhi believes Sooryavanshi's further development as a cricketer would require exposure to the 50-over and red-ball formats through India A set-up, while focus should also be on improving his fielding.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"A boy who is so mature that he can even take singles, play the situation, yet maintain a strike rate of 200-plus, right? So, for me, he has ticked all the boxes. One aspect which he can still work on is his fielding because we haven't seen him field a lot during IPLs, right?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"But also going ahead for his holistic development as a cricketer, I'm sure there will be plans to make him play more of India A games as well, whether it is the 50-over format or the red-ball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA player of that calibre, that talent definitely needs to be groomed, counselled, so that we can see him more. Can you imagine him playing Test matches with the same authority? Not exactly like that. But even half of it, it'll be such a delight to watch him playing Test cricket,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the same time, Gandhi allowed himself to dream of what Sooryavanshi could do in Test cricket. \"It will be the bowlers who will be having heart attacks, right? They must be wondering how to stop this boy. I mean, he is absolutely marvellous. I mean, I am running out of superlatives to describe such a young boy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe is taking all the bowlers to the cleaners, basically, whether it is spinners, fast bowlers and the authority with which he is batting is really pleasing to me. As I said, we are running out of adjectives, superlatives, and ways to describe him. But he is simply mind-boggling.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Apart from Sooryavanshi, Rajat Patidar will also be in huge focus after being the driving force behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s successful defence of their IPL crown as both captain and batter. But with Shreyas Iyer in equally good form, how the selectors could accommodate Patidar remains to be seen.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe is taking all the bowlers to the cleaners, basically, whether it is spinners, fast bowlers and the authority with which he is batting is really pleasing to me. As I said, we are running out of adjectives, superlatives, and ways to describe him. But he is simply mind-boggling.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think selectors will definitely reward him with a place in the squad. I don't know whether he'll feature in the playing XI or not, but I think definitely on the basis of his performance, he definitely deserves a spot,\" added Gandhi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n