Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden call-up to the Indian side. The15-year-old batter was included in the squads for the twin tours of Ireland and England, and also the massive Asian Games 2026 to be held in September. The Rajasthan Royals batter was the leading run-getter in this season of the IPL with 776 runs. He also hit 72 sixes to go past the previous record set by Chris Gayle in the 2012 season.

Speaking to RR’s team manager, Romi Bhinder, the young batting sensation recalled having a chat with former India skipper Virat Kohli at the end of the IPL 2026 finals. The 37-year-old was seen having a lengthy chat with the youngster post Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s second successive title win.

Sooryvanshi said, “I was a huge fan of RCB and Virat Kohli, when he placed his hands on my shoulder like that and talked to me. It was a dream come true. It didn’t feel like such a player was speaking to me; rather, it felt like a big brother was talking and explaining things to me. He told me what I need to do and where and how to focus.”

India’s former skipper has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan due to injury. The selectors have named Yashasvi Jaiswal as the replacement for the batter. Kohli scored 75 not out in the finals to be named the player of the match, and also scored his fastest fifty in the league.

Virat Kohli’s candid chat with Sooryavanshi that made headlines

RCB, after the finals last Sunday, put out the video capturing the conversation between the two batters. The veteran batter was heard saying, “You have to go even higher from here. Whatever you have achieved is because of your hard work and self-belief. Do not pay attention to who is saying what.”

Apart from his exploits in the IPL 2026 season, the batter also scored 175 from 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final vs England. His knock included 15 fours and 15 sixes as the Indians scored 411 and went on to win the game and the title by 100 runs.