Youngest to debut in International cricket: Hasan Raza leads, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at 2nd, Sachin Tendulkar at…; check full list

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the 15-year-old batting sensation made his India debut in the second T20I of the five-match series against England at Old Trafford, Manchester on Saturday. At just 15 years and 99 days, the explosive left-handed opener Sooryavanshi shattered a legendary 37-year-old record to become the   youngest Indian ever to play international cricket across formats, eclipsing the great Sachin Tendulkar.  

Sooryavanshi forced his way into the senior national side following a historic IPL 2026 campaign with the Rajasthan Royals. The teenager swept the tournament’s individual honours – bagging the Orange Cap with 776 runs, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, and the Emerging Player title, all while striking at an astonishing rate of 237.30

After knocking hard on the selector’s doors and warming the bench during the Ireland series, head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer handed him his maiden cap in the T20I of the five-match series against England on Saturday.

Historically, very few cricketers have transitioned into the high-octane environment of senior international cricket before turning 16. The global leaderboard is dominated by prodigies from the subcontinent.

1. Hasan Raza (Pakistan) – 14 Years, 227 Days

Pakistan’s Hasan Raza holds the absolute record for the youngest debutant from a major cricketing nation. He made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in October 1996. Just six days later, at 14 years and 233 days, he also became the youngest ODI debutant in history. 

2. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (India) – 15 Years, 99 Days

By stepping out to bat against England on Saturday, Sooryavanshi takes the second spot globally across formats and holds the ultimate crown as the youngest T20I debutant among all Test-playing nations, breaking Ireland’s Josh Little’s previous T20I record (16 years, 309 days).

3. Mohammad Sharif (Bangladesh) – 15 Years, 116 Days

Mohammad Sharif, he Bangladeshi fast bowler burst onto the scene in April 2001 against Zimbabwe, claiming a spot as one of the youngest pacers to ever bowl in Test cricket.

4. Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan) – 15 Years, 124 Days 

A legendary figure in Pakistani cricket, Mushtaq Mohammad made his Test debut back in March 1959 against the West Indies, holding the record for decades before Raza’s arrival.

5. Aaqib Javed (Pakistan), 16 Years, 127 Days

Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed made his ODI debut at just 16 against West Indies in December 1988, where he came up against a century from Desmond Haynes. Despite the tough initiation, he finished with respectable figures of 1/49 from nine overs.

6. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 16 Years, 205 Days

Legendary Sachin Tendulkar held the Indian record for 37 years. Entering a fiery Karachi atmosphere against Pakistan in November 1989, a 16-year-old Tendulkar faced down one of the most brutal bowling attacks in history, charting the course for a historic 24-year career. He also debuted in ODIs shortly after at 16 years and 238 days.