'He should have fun playing the game' - Ravichandran Ashwin advises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to enjoy his cricket

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the teenager prepares for a potential senior India debut against Ireland this week. Ashwin wants the youngster to enjoy the game freely while he still can, because the pressure of international cricket will find him eventually.

The Bihar-born left-hander earned his maiden India call-up on the back of an exceptional IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30 to win the Orange Cap. At 15 years and 71 days, he became the youngest player ever selected for the India senior men's squad, breaking a record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar.

"He's a 15-year-old kid, who I personally believe should have fun playing the game, just like you would in the gullies from his hometown. He's not going to have a lot of long road ahead of him where he's going to play without pressure. It will eventually catch up, because it will turn into being work, but as of now, I would love for him to have fun and entertain all of us," Ashwin said on BBC's Stumped podcast.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a special cricketer: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin also pointed out that Sooryavanshi's game goes beyond power hitting. He highlighted the youngster's ability to read the game and make thoughtful adjustments against seasoned bowlers, which he sees as the mark of a genuinely special talent.

"I think he's special. When you watch someone special, you know it straight away. What stood out with Vaibhav was not just the way he's batted, but it's also about how he's been able to make subtle adjustments with respect to some senior bowlers coming after him," Ashwin added.

India play two T20Is against Ireland on Friday, June 26, and Sunday, June 28, at Stormont, Belfast. The team then travels to England for a five-match T20I series, which runs from Wednesday, July 1 to Saturday, July 11.