Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might be tearing up the IPL, but according to former India star Sanjay Manjrekar, earning "respect" in the cricketing world requires more than just T20 fireworks. The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals sensation has set the tournament ablaze with a staggering 404 runs in just 10 matches, striking at an eye-popping 237.64—numbers that scream "ready for the big stage."

Sooryavanshi first grabbed headlines last year with a century in his debut IPL season, then backed it up with a monumental 175 in the U-19 World Cup final. Now, with IPL 2026 behind him, whispers of an India call-up are growing louder. Manjrekar, speaking to Sportstar, acknowledged the youngster has "done enough" to be considered for the T20 side, especially given his exploits against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. "If someone is lighting up this stage like this, then he's ready," Manjrekar said.

But here's the catch: India's T20 opener slot is already stacked. With Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal firmly in the mix, breaking in won't be easy. And Manjrekar warns that Sooryavanshi's game has a specific T20 flavor that won't translate to longer formats. "In Test cricket, the advice is to get close to the ball. You will not get 20 runs in England or Australia by staying away from it," he explained.

The critique is clear: Sooryavanshi's leg-side leaning technique—effective for creating space in T20s—needs a major overhaul for red-ball cricket. "If you want your kid to be famous and rich, T20 batting is for you. If you want him to get the respect of people like us, the critics, then get him to get closer to the ball," Manjrekar added.

For now, Sooryavanshi's blistering form has him on the cusp of international glory. Whether he can evolve into a complete cricketer—or remain a T20 specialist—will define his legacy.