Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set for India debut vs Ireland: Jersey number, stats & youngest Indian debutants detailed

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stands on the cusp of history, with the 15-year-old set to make his senior India debut in the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast this week.

The Bihar-born opener earned his maiden call-up on the back of a record-shattering IPL 2026 campaign and a dream run for India A.

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The BCCI presented Sooryavanshi with his first senior India jersey at the team hotel. The teenager admitted he could scarcely process the occasion, having dreamed of pulling on the India blue since he first picked up a bat as a child.

Should he take the field at Stormont on June 26 or 28, Sooryavanshi will become the youngest men's international cricketer to represent India, breaking a record held by Sachin Tendulkar for over three decades.

The anticipation around his debut has gripped Indian cricket like few prospects before him.

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's journey to the senior team

Sooryavanshi first announced himself as the youngest centurion in men's T20 cricket and a teenage Ranji Trophy debutant before exploding onto the global stage in IPL 2026.

He amassed 776 runs in 16 matches for the Rajasthan Royals at a strike rate of 237.30, winning the Orange Cap, MVP, and Emerging Player awards.

His record-breaking IPL haul included one century, five fifties, and a record 72 sixes in a single edition, surpassing Chris Gayle's previous mark. The left-hander then carried that form into India A duty, smashing 94 off 29 balls in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka A.

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That innings featured the fastest fifty in List A history, reached in just 11 deliveries, and convinced the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee to fast-track him into the senior squad for the tours of Ireland and England, plus the Asian Games.

India vs Ireland: Match details and schedule

India plays two T20Is against Ireland at Stormont in Belfast on June 26 and June 28 before a five-match series against England from July 1 to 11.

Lorcan Tucker leads a depleted Ireland side missing several first-choice players through injury.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's jersey number revealed

Sooryavanshi will wear the No. 03 jersey for India, a number previously associated with the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina.

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In Indian cricket, newcomers may choose any vacant number that is neither held by an active player nor retired in honour of a legend.

He received the shirt from throwdown specialist Raghu at the team hotel, and the BCCI shared the emotional video on social media. The board has also made a special provision to allow Sooryavanshi's parents to accompany him on the tours of Ireland and England, covering all expenses given his age.

"Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practice, I dreamed of this moment. I cannot explain this feeling in words. The moment I saw that T-shirt, I couldn't stop smiling," Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scores in last 5 matches

Sooryavanshi's recent form across India A's tri-series in Sri Lanka shows a player who took time to find his feet before exploding in the final, capping the run with his record-breaking 94.

Youngest Indians to play for the national team

Sooryavanshi, at 15 years and 87 days, has already become the youngest player ever selected for a senior India men's squad. A debut would see him break Tendulkar's long-standing record as India's youngest men's international cricketer across all formats.

How to watch India vs Ireland 1st T20I

Indian fans can watch the India vs Ireland 1st T20I live on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST on Friday, June 26.

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