Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make debut against England? Legendary cricket…

680 runs at a strike rate of 242- these are the numbers generated by the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026). The numbers are expected to improve further as the Rajasthan Royals are scheduled to face the Gujarat Titans for the third match in the play-offs. And. If the Royals defeat the Titans, then the young prodigy will get another match to further strengthen his batting stats. newsindata.com

These staggering numbers, produced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, have been produced against some of the top international stars. There is no doubt that the batter is more than ready to represent the Indian senior cricket team in the highest order of the game, on the international stage.

Sunil Gavaskar explains why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi deserves to play for Team India

Indian cricket legend, Sunil Gavaskar, is among the loudest voices in the entire cricket fraternity, who ask the BCCI to provide the young prodigy his debut cap during India’s series against England. According to Gavaskar, after playing such knocks in IPL 2026, it would be an injustice to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi if he does not select him for the T20 squad for the team in England.

“In T20 cricket, he is ready. I hope that he is selected for the T20 squad for the team in England. After this performance, if you don’t give him a spot now, when will you give it to him?” said Gavaskar while speaking on SportsTak.

“Don’t look at his age – he is hitting players with international experience twice his age into the stands. Just watch how he is playing, with no fear, how kids play in the gully. When we were kids, did we ever play defense? In the same way, Sooryavanshi is batting. I hope that this kid in his style of play never goes away,” Gavaskar said.

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Who will be dropped?

Gavaskar further mentioned that if Vaibhav comes into the squad, then it will be a headache, a headache in a good way, for the team management, as they will have to drop someone from the playing line-up.

“There is the question of who will have to sit out for him for India. It’s a headache, but a sweet headache – who can be picked is not a problem, but rather who can sit out. They have a lot of options. They can take him in the 15-16, and then whether he’s in the XI or not can be seen later on,” the former opener mentioned.

In 2026, he will represent India: Gavaskar

Spending some time itself will be beneficial for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s grooming, Sunil Gavaskar believes. He emphasizes that the southpaw is all set to make his Team India debut this year.

“But the experience he will get from being with the Indian team is priceless. He’s undoubtedly going to get his debut this year, in England or in Zimbabwe. In 2026, he will represent India. 2026 will be remembered as the year of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Gavaskar stated.

Read More: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on cloud nine after receiving massive praise from Sachin Tendulkar for IPL 2026 heroics

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Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed India’s wrestlers following their dominant campaign at the U23 Asian Wrestling Championships, calling the achievement a “defining moment” for Indian wrestling.

India produced an outstanding performance across freestyle and women’s categories, securing team titles and multiple medals at the continental tournament. The success highlighted the country’s growing strength in the sport at the junior and development level.

Rijiju congratulated the athletes for their determination and discipline, while several senior leaders and sports personalities also praised the wrestlers for bringing glory to the nation.

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Thangboi Singto is perhaps one of the most experienced coaches in Indian club football, having managed several ISL and I-League clubs. He joined Emami East Bengal last season as the head of football and made an immediate impact by identifying and recruiting the right players in consultation with coach Oscar Bruzon. According to Singto, the key reasons behind Emami East Bengal’s success were the players’ mental well-being and the mutual understanding between the club officials and the Emami management. Here are excerpts from Singto’s conversation with Revsportz.

How satisfying is it to see the club win the league within one and a half years of your appointment as Head of Football?

Thangboi Singto: The most important person in a football club is the coach. He manages the team, conducts training sessions, and works under tremendous pressure, especially at a club like East Bengal. I have been a coach myself, so I understand how challenging it is every single day. The coach is the architect of the team, the players execute the plans, and the fans support and enjoy the journey.

But behind all that, many things happen in the background. Success truly depends on teamwork, though implementing teamwork at a high-level club is never easy because everyone has their own ideas and processes. What made things easier was the support from the investors, especially Emami and Nitu da (Debabrata Sarkar). They were pillars of strength for the club. Even when the ship was almost sinking, they stood by us professionally, positively, and directly. That support helped us recover and continue our journey until we reached our destination — winning the ISL.

You have worked with several coaches before. What stands out about Oscar?

Thangboi Singto: I have worked with several coaches — Manolo Marquez, Joseph Gombau, David James, Rene Meulensteen and many others — but what sets Oscar apart is his unwavering dedication. One of the most crucial aspects of coaching is identifying and recruiting the right players, and Oscar excelled in that area. He studied players in depth and communicated with them clearly before bringing them into the team. He always had a precise understanding of how each player would fit into his system.

The management also played a key role by backing us financially and approving the budgets required to sign the players we needed. Another remarkable quality Oscar possesses is his resilience. Coaching in Kolkata, especially at East Bengal, comes with immense pressure. At times, his reactions may have appeared unusual from the outside, but in retrospect, they were probably necessary to survive such an intense environment without being overwhelmed by it. Naturally, disagreements are inevitable in a big club. There will always be debates and differing opinions. However, those moments never divided us. Instead, under Oscar’s leadership, they helped us grow, learn, and emerge stronger as a team.

Despite a few questionable signings, there were also standout performers such as Kevin, Miguel, and Youssef. Could you tell us more about the recruitment process?

Thangboi Singto: I have never worked with a coach as deeply involved in recruitment as Oscar. He was fully committed to identifying the right profiles for the team. Kevin was spotted partly through Adrian, our assistant coach, who had previously worked with him in Spain. Miguel already had a strong connection with Oscar, and Oscar understood his qualities inside out. I still believe Miguel has even more to contribute.

Of course, not every signing turns out as expected. Hiroshi, for instance, did not quite fit in. That is part of football. But instead of dwelling on it, we regrouped collectively and looked for ways to improve. Youssef was a player Oscar already knew well and wanted to sign earlier. Oscar asked me to get in touch with him and his agent, and Yusuf himself was eager to prove his worth here. In the end, he finished as the league’s top scorer. People may debate the nature of his goals, but a top scorer remains a top scorer. To outperform someone like Jamie Maclaren is no small achievement.

What steps did the club take to foster a positive dressing room atmosphere and support the players’ mental well-being?

Thangboi Singto: That is a very important question. People see training sessions, gyms, fitness work, and meetings, but there is much more happening behind the scenes. Players, especially foreign recruits, want to know how professionally a club is run. They ask about accommodation, schools for their children, facilities for families, lifestyle, and overall comfort. I think East Bengal handled this very well. From welcoming players at the airport to ensuring comfortable hotel stays and smooth communication, everything was planned carefully. People like Ashley, Deep, Rahul, Aritra, and especially team manager Pratim played a huge role. Pratim has been a key link between everyone. When players feel that their families are comfortable and their needs are being taken care of, they perform better on the pitch.

The club’s high-performance centre has also received praise. Your thoughts?

Thangboi Singto: Yes, that has been a very important factor. It was. Vibhash Agarwal’s brainchild. When people hear “high-performance centre,” they imagine a massive complex. Ours may not be huge, but it is compact and highly functional. We already had a good training pitch in Salt Lake and gym support through Goals Gym, but we needed a dedicated place for recovery, planning and rehabilitation. Our medical team under Dr. Mustafa Poonawalla, along with Firoz, Arghya, Rajesh and Raju, worked tirelessly. The centre gave players proper rehab facilities, treatment rooms, planning spaces for coaches and an organised working environment. It became a small but integral part of our success.

You have worked closely with players like Naorem Mahesh Singh and Bipin Singh. Can you tell us about your relationship with them?

Thangboi Singto: I have been involved in Indian club football for many years, so most players know me. My relationship with players is built on trust and understanding. I have a memorable story about Bipin from our Shillong Lajong days. One day before training, I received a call saying that Bipin was at the police station because he had been accused of kidnapping his girlfriend — who is now his wife.

We rushed there, and when the police asked the girl whether she had been kidnapped, she clearly stated that she had gone with him willingly. That incident could have completely changed Bipin’s life and career. From that day onward, our bond became even stronger. I honestly feel he has been one of the most consistent Indian performers over the last few years, and personally, I am surprised that he has not received more opportunities with the national team.

There is an uncertainty about the future of the ISL—what is the club management’s decision?

Thangboi Singto: No investor or owner would want to dismantle a team that has just become champions. However, the bigger issue is the uncertainty surrounding the league itself. Even last season, there were doubts about whether the league would take place. Despite that, Emami continued to support us fully—salaries were paid on time, facilities were maintained, and assistance was never interrupted. Nitu da has always been available whenever we needed help, whether for visas, training grounds, or other requirements.

The real challenge is the lack of clarity and long-term planning in Indian football. Investors are willing to invest, coaches are ready to coach, and players are eager to play, but the ecosystem needs better structure and planning as a whole. Ideally, we should be celebrating the title and confidently preparing for the future. Instead, there is still uncertainty about the next season, which is unfortunate. However, as Nitu da always says, “Khela bondho hobe na, khela hobe” — football will continue. I believe things can improve, but only with better planning from everyone involved.

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