“He’s ready for…”: Kris Srikkanth pushes for 14-year-old in Asia Cup squad

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will announce India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday, September 19. The selectors are expected to make some bold decisions, with a few big names likely to miss out from the squad for the tournament starting September 9.

In the lead-up to the announcement, former India cricketer Kris Srikkanth has put forward a surprising suggestion. He has urged the selectors to consider including teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the squad. Despite being just 14 years old, Srikkanth believes Suryavanshi has displayed remarkable maturity and is already prepared to make an impact at the international level.

“You have to play boldly. Don’t make him wait. Don’t say things like let him mature. He is already playing with remarkable maturity. His shot-making has been on another level. If I were chairman, I would definitely have him in the 16,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.

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“Samson is doubtful, according to me. My first-choice opener is Abhishek Sharma, no doubt. I will have two more openers. My picks would be Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Sai Sudharsan, with Shubman Gill as an option. If I were a selector, I would keep Vaibhav in the 15 for the T20 World Cup. He has been outstanding. I think it should be Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sai Sudharsan. I would take two out of these three. That would be my preference,” he added.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi shot into the spotlight after becoming the youngest-ever player to score a century in T20 cricket during IPL 2025. Playing for the Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans, the 14-year-old smashed a blistering hundred off just 35 balls.

His rapid rise continued when he was selected for India’s U-19 squad for the five-match ODI series in England. Suryavanshi didn’t disappoint—he finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer with 355 runs in five games, highlighted by a spectacular 143 in the fourth ODI.

The young prodigy’s next challenge will come on the U-19 tour of Australia, starting September 21, where India will play two unofficial Tests followed by three ODIs.