‘Next Sachin’? Shashi Tharoor Urges Gambhir to Pick 14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi

The Indian cricketing world is buzzing after 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi demolished world records in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 24, 2025. His historic performance prompted Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to send a direct message to Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar, invoking the name of the greatest of them all: Sachin Tendulkar.

Tharoor’s Message: “What Are We Waiting For?”

Following Suryavanshi’s record-breaking 190 off 84 balls for Bihar, Tharoor took to X (formerly Twitter) to draw a rare and bold parallel.

“The last time a fourteen-year-old showed such prodigious cricketing talent, it was Sachin Tendulkar — and we all know what became of him. What are we waiting for? Vaibhav Suryavanshi for India!” Tharoor posted, tagging the BCCI’s top leadership.

The Global Records Broken

While the Tendulkar comparison is a massive emotional endorsement, it is backed by world-class data. In a single afternoon, Suryavanshi achieved:

• The AB de Villiers Slayer: He reached 150 in just 54 balls, shattering AB de Villiers’ decade-old world record for the fastest 150 in List A history (64 balls).
• Youngest Centurion: At 14 years and 272 days, he became the youngest player to score a century in men’s senior List A cricket.
• Rapid-Fire Ton: His century came off just 36 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian and sixth-fastest in the world.

The Gambhir Challenge: Impact Over Age

Tharoor’s message puts Gautam Gambhir’s “New India” selection philosophy to the test. Gambhir has already proven he values impact and intent over reputation by making tough calls like dropping established stars from the T20 squad.

The question now is whether the selectors will “fast-track” a 14-year-old. While ICC rules currently require a minimum age of 15 for international debut, Suryavanshi will reach that milestone in March 2026.

What’s Next?

Suryavanshi is slated to lead India’s charge in the Under-19 World Cup starting January 15, 2026. However, with Tharoor’s endorsement and a blockbuster IPL season with Rajasthan Royals on the horizon, the calls for a senior India debut are only going to get louder.