His scores of 72, 40, and 52 in recent U19 World Cup 2026 matches underline his class. Speaking exclusively, Karim gushed, ‘Vaibhav is a rare talent. I’m thrilled by his performances. He belongs in the Indian team immediately.’

The youngster isn’t flying under the radar. ‘State bodies, BCCI’s excellence center, and Rajasthan Royals are all invested in his development. His national team debut is just around the corner,’ Karim noted.

Suryavanshi etched his name in IPL folklore last year. Playing for RR in IPL 2025, the 14-year-old hammered a century off 35 balls against GT, becoming the tournament’s youngest ton-maker and second-fastest overall. Only Chris Gayle’s 30-ball blitz for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013 stands ahead.

With the T20 World Cup kicking off on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, Karim backed the senior side. ‘Our T20 and white-ball teams are powerhouses. World Cup triumph is within reach. Tests require more focus.’

This call from a seasoned voice like Karim could accelerate Suryavanshi’s trajectory, blending youth with experience in India’s cricketing arsenal.

Furthermore, Karim discussed India’s upcoming five-Test series in England, emphasizing the opportunity for a young team under newly appointed captain Shubman Gill to excel. He acknowledged the depth of talent in Indian cricket, with youngsters receiving chances to showcase their abilities. The series begins on June 20th and marks the start of a new World Test Championship cycle. Karim also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for young talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the 14-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter, recognizing his exceptional performance and the growing reach of the game.

Reflecting on the MI-PBKS clash, Karim stated MI’s dominance due to their strong gameplay and bowling unit. PBKS, despite topping the league stage with nine wins, faced a significant loss against RCB, being bowled out for 101. In contrast, MI displayed a powerful batting performance in the eliminator against Gujarat Titans (GT), successfully defending a score of 228 and winning by 20 runs.

Regarding RCB’s prospects, Karim hoped Kohli would achieve success in his 18th season. Kohli has scored 614 runs in 14 matches with an average of 55.81 and a strike rate exceeding 146.

Karim also discussed India’s upcoming tour of England, highlighting the opportunity for a young, new-look team under the leadership of Shubman Gill. He emphasized the bench strength and the chance for youngsters to perform well. The tour begins on June 20 with the first Test at Leeds.

Karim also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for young talent like 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had a successful IPL season. Suryavanshi played seven matches for RR, scoring 252 runs with an impressive strike rate, including a record-breaking century.