Board of Control for Cricket in India reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will wear jersey 3
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially revealed that 15-year-old batting phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will wear jersey number 3 for his upcoming senior international debut. Team India throwdown specialist Raghu presented the blue kit to Sooryavanshi in his hotel room on Tuesday morning, June 23, 2026, in a video shared across the board’s social media platforms.
Sooryavanshi earned his maiden call-up to the Indian T20 squad following a record-breaking Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season where he finished as the leading run-scorer. By joining the team for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, the Bihar-born left-hander is on the verge of becoming India’s youngest international cricketer.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi inherits number 3 jersey from Indian legends
This milestone would see him surpass the record set by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at 16 years and 205 days old.
The assignment of the number 3 jersey links the teenager to a decorated history in Indian cricket. The number was famously worn by former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and aggressive middle-order batter Suresh Raina. For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, receiving the shirt represented the culmination of a journey that began when he first picked up a bat as a child in Bihar.
The BCCI shared the reveal video at approximately 9:00 AM, capturing the 15-year-old’s stunned reaction as he held the senior national colours for the first time. “Words cannot explain it,” Sooryavanshi said during the presentation. “The moment I saw that T-shirt, I couldn’t stop smiling. Sometimes, something happens that you never even imagined could happen.
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And when it finally does, you don’t know how to react.”
Schedule for India tours of Ireland and England
The young batter’s international career is set to begin in Belfast, with India scheduled to play two T20Is against Ireland on June 26 and June 28. Immediately following the Irish leg, the squad travels to England for a five-match T20I series running from July 1 to July 11.
These fixtures serve as a high-pressure introduction to international conditions for a player who turned 15 only in March 2026.
Beyond the European tour, Sooryavanshi is also expected to feature in the 2026 Asian Games. The men’s cricket competition at the Games starts on September 24, with the final medal matches slated for October 3. His inclusion in these squads highlights the BCCI’s desire to integrate his high-scoring rate into the senior white-ball setup as early as possible.
Dominating the IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals
Selection for the senior side followed a historic performance in IPL 2026, where Sooryavanshi played for the Rajasthan Royals. He secured the Orange Cap by scoring 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30. His power-hitting was particularly impactful, as he struck 72 sixes throughout the tournament, breaking the previous single-season record of 59 held by Chris Gayle.
His ability to compete against senior pros was already evident on April 28, 2025, when he became the youngest player to score an IPL century. At 14 years and 32 days old, he hit 101 off 38 balls against Gujarat Titans.
This reflected the same domestic form that saw him make his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024 at the age of 12 years and 284 days.
The teenager’s record-breaking momentum continued recently on June 21, 2026, while playing for India A against Sri Lanka A. In the tri-series final at Dambulla, he smashed a half-century in just 11 balls, setting a new record for the fastest fifty in List A cricket history. He finished that innings with 94 runs from only 29 deliveries, including 10 fours and 8 sixes.
From Under-19 World Cup star to senior national prospect
While his T20 exploits earned the headlines, his performance at the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup solidified his status as a national priority. In the final against England, he anchored India’s victory with an innings of 175 runs from 80 balls. That knock included 15 boundaries and 15 sixes, helping him secure the Player of the Tournament award.
International cricket often tests young prospects differently than domestic leagues. Much like how Formula 1 teams manage young technical talent, the Indian coaching staff will likely focus on his adjustment to the swinging ball in England. The transition from the batting-friendly tracks of the IPL to the humidity and movement of the United Kingdom represents his first major tactical challenge.
The upcoming weeks will determine if he can replicate his aggressive 230+ strike rate on the global stage. If he features in the playing XI against Ireland, he will officially become the youngest Indian to play international cricket. For now, the boy who was born on March 27, 2011, is focused on the jersey.
“The biggest step towards that journey was completed today,” Sooryavanshi noted. “I felt like a dream.”