As teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets ready for India’s five-match Twenty20 International series against New Zealand, which starts on October 22, 2026, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has advised the young player to take inspiration from the discipline and priorities of Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Anil Kumble.
Harbhajan advised Sooryavanshi to devote all of his energy to cricket and stay away from distractions, citing the four Indian greats’ unwavering focus as an example. Virat ought to be Sooryavanshi’s hero because of the way he directed his energy from an early age. He ought to admire players like Kumble, Dravid, Tendulkar, and Kohli.
They all focused solely on cricket and avoided getting sidetracked by anything else. In an interview with the Prakhar Gupta Xperience Podcast, Harbhajan stated, “Knowing your priorities is important, and Sooryavanshi needs to be clear in his priorities if he wants to reach the level his talent warrants.”
Shreyas Iyer is leading the 16-man Indian team for the series, which includes Sooryavanshi. The five games are set for October 22 and 24 in Christchurch, October 27 in Wellington, October 30 in Auckland, and November 1, 2026 in Hamilton.
Why, at this point in his career, is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi receiving so much attention?
The rise of Sooryavanshi in Indian cricket has been extremely quick. He scored 175 off 80 balls to help India win the 2026 Under-19 World Cup final against England, an innings that instantly made him a household name in the country.
On July 4, 2026, he made his T20I debut against England, breaking Tendulkar’s long-standing record and becoming the youngest Indian to appear in international cricket. Sooryavanshi finished as the overall top scorer with 151 runs during India’s three-match Twenty20 International series against Zimbabwe from July 23 to July 26, 2026, and the hosts were swept 3-0. He became the youngest player to reach a half-century in men’s international cricket with his 50 off 19 balls in the first game.
His IPL 2026 performances for the Rajasthan Royals demonstrated his status as one of the nation’s most potent young hitters outside of international cricket. Additionally, he was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, making history as the youngest Indian to do so at the continental champion event. Harbhajan’s advice to remain grounded has become even more relevant due to this combination of record-breaking performances and quick elevation.
What is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s current state before the tour of New Zealand?
Despite his rising stature, Sooryavanshi was left out of the starting lineup for all five of the Twenty20 International matches against the West Indies, even though he was still in the squad. As a result, his participation in the New Zealand tour is still under scrutiny, and in light of this uncertainty, Harbhajan’s advice to stick to the routines of India’s most renowned hitters is all the more important. Additionally, the former player directly compared the teen’s hitting prowess to that of Tendulkar at a comparable age.
Also Read: Australian Umpire Joins Ranji Trophy
He is incredible, and I am eager to follow him throughout his career. He must have done something incorrectly if he doesn’t defend his skill. What Tendulkar had in his teens is what he has. I have never witnessed such hitting ability at such a young age, but it’s still early. “His vision at this age is incredibly clear,” Harbhajan remarked.
