Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will miss the U19 Asia Cup 2026 despite being just 15 years old. BCCI rules allow players to feature in only one U19 World Cup, and Sooryavanshi represented India in the 2024 edition. Having moved beyond the junior setup, the teenage batter has instead been named in India's Rising Stars Asia Cup squad.

India faced off against arch-rivals Pakistan in the U19 Asia Cup 2026, but one notable absentee from the Indian squad is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Despite being just 15 years old and eligible to feature in the age-group tournament, the batting sensation has not been included in the squad.

Why Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Not Picked For U19 Asia Cup 2026?

Sooryavanshi's absence from the U19 Asia Cup is linked to the BCCI's eligibility rules for the age-group World Cup. The board allows a player to feature in only one edition of the U19 World Cup, and Sooryavanshi has already represented India in the 2024 tournament.

As a result, the 15-year-old cannot feature in another edition of the U19 World Cup, even though he remains young enough to play age-group cricket. He is therefore being phased out of India's U19 setup and has progressed to the senior pathway, with the selectors considering him for higher-level assignments.