Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit has backed the inclusion of 15-year-old batting talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the India national cricket team. Pandit praised his fearless approach and said that current form and consistency should matter more than age in selection for India.
Suryavanshi is in great form in the current tournament with his strong hitting. In his first six matches for Rajasthan Royals (RR), the young batsman has consistently dominated a strong bowling attack, showing the temperament required to perform under pressure in top-level white-ball cricket.
Former KKR coach backs Vaibhav Suryavanshi for senior India team
Speaking to RevSportz, Chandrakant Pandit expressed full confidence in Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s ability. The former Kolkata Knight Riders coach said that when a player is in great form and is performing consistently in competitive cricket, age does not matter.
“In my view, age is not the most important factor. What really matters is form – how well a batsman or bowler is performing and how consistently they are performing. I am sure the selection committee is already thinking in this direction,” Pandit said.
He said, “It is not just about what we say from outside; he has to plan for both the present and future of Indian cricket. With a young talent like him, the main question is when to give him opportunities, when to hold back and against which teams he should be fielded.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s explosive batting performance in IPL 2026
Vaibhav Suryavanshi made a great start to his tournament campaign. He scored a half-century in just 15 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The 15-year-old continued his form in the following matches by playing impressive innings of 31 and 39 against Gujarat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI).
After this, he performed brilliantly against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and scored 78 runs in just 26 balls. However, he finished with a duck in his most recent outing against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Despite that setback, Suryavanshi’s overall numbers this season are impressive. In six matches, he has scored 254 runs at an impressive strike rate of 263.15, which included 26 fours and 20 sixes.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi attacked with confidence from the first ball – Chandrakant Pandit
Chandrakant Pandit recalls first noticing Vaibhav Suryavanshi during the last Ranji Trophy season. The experienced coach said the young batsman attacked the opposition bowlers with the very first ball in the domestic red-ball match against Bihar in Madhya Pradesh.
Pandit said, “I first saw him during the domestic Ranji Trophy matches last season. In a match against Bihar in Madhya Pradesh, the way he attacked with confidence from the very first ball shows his mentality. Be it red ball or white ball cricket, his ability is remarkable. Once he gets going, he has the ability to win matches single-handedly.”
“Players like this are rare, and when they come, everyone from selectors to teammates take notice. I believe the time is right to give him a chance. However, it is equally important to give him enough space and time to settle in, because international cricket is a different challenge and can bring pressureespecially for a young player” he concluded.
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