Former Australia opener Justin Langer revealed that batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the only cricketer from whom he has ever asked for a selfie. Langer said he never did the same with legends like Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli as he was in awe of their fearless batting and extraordinary talent during IPL 2026.
It is expected that Suryavanshi will debut at the international level. The first T20I of India’s two-match series against Ireland in Belfast on Friday, June 26. The match will also mark the beginning of Shreyas Iyer’s tenure as Team India’s T20I captain after replacing Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup cycle.
I am amazed by his talent – Justin Langer reveals why he asked Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a selfie
Justin Langer said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi is only the second person he has asked for a selfie. Langer said that he had never asked any player for a selfie during his IPL coaching career before meeting Suryavanshi.
“Vaibhav Suryavanshi is the second selfie I’ve asked for! The second selfie was with an AFL champion I used to watch as a kid,” Langer told BBC Sport.
“I said, ‘I’ve never done this before in the IPL, but do you mind if we take a selfie together? Because I’m amazed by your talent, I’m amazed by your mentality, I’m amazed by the way you play cricket.’ It is thrilling to watch him bat.”
He has extraordinary hands – Justin Langer on Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Justin Langer said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi has rare batting qualities which set him apart from other young players. The former Australia opening batsman said the teenager’s loose hand action and natural bat swing allows him to generate exceptional power.
Langer said, “What makes him so special? His hands are extraordinary. I always say the really great players have hands like a hose in a swimming pool.”
“He holds about a figure eight in his hands in his backswing. You know, it’s small, it’s subtle, but they’re very loose.”
“A lot of left-handed batsmen, when they are trying to hit sixes, they go from the sight screen round to the leg side, which is different with Suryavanshi who is ready to hit it to the off side. On the first ball of his IPL career, he hit a six over cover. Not over long-on, not over deep mid-wicket like many left-handed batsmen. He hit a six over cover and it went about 20 rows back into the stands. Gone.”
Vaibhav Suryavanshi eyes historic Indian debut against Ireland
If Vaibhav Suryavanshi is selected in the playing eleven for the first T20 match in Belfast, he will become the youngest player to debut for the Indian men’s team. At the age of 15 years and 91 days, he will break Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Tendulkar made his India debut in 1989 against Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 205 days.
Kishore got his first India call-up after a sensational IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. He won the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.30, which included one century and five half-centuries.
Suryavanshi continued his fine form with India A during the triangular series in Sri Lanka. He scored 94 runs off just 29 balls in the final against Sri Lanka A, including a record-breaking half-century off 11 balls, helping India A win the title. After the Ireland series, Suryavanshi will travel to England for a five-match T20I series.
