Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Named to TIME100 Next 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old Indian cricketer, has been named to TIME100 Next 2026, where he is the youngest person on the list and its only Indian athlete. TIME placed him in the Phenom category, one of seven athletes recognized in the annual selection of people it describes as shaping the future. The recognition comes as Sooryavanshi builds a record across domestic, franchise and international cricket. Reports say he scored 776 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 Indian Premier League season, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer. He played 16 matches, according to one account, and was also reported to have received the Orange Cap and Emerging Player of the Year award. Sooryavanshi made his senior India T20I debut against England in July 2026. Reports say he has since appeared in six T20Is, scoring 193 runs, with a top score of 81. He first drew attention in senior domestic cricket after making his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar at age 12. Rajasthan Royals signed him ahead of the 2025 IPL season. His 2025 IPL campaign brought 252 runs in seven matches, including a century, according to reports. In 2026, he also played for India’s Under-19 side.