Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, an Indian cricketer, was recently selected by TIME magazine for the list called TIME100 Next 2026, which is an annual compilation of 100 emerging individuals shaping the next generation. He is the youngest individual selected for the list and one of seven athletes chosen this year. TIME put him in the Phenom category and mentioned that he is rapidly emerging as a global sporting star. This selection came after breaking records in taking his game from Bihar cricket to IPL, India national team and 2026 Under-19 World Cup.
What Is TIME100 Next?
TIME100 Next is the annual extension of the TIME100 franchise of TIME magazine. Every year, it selects 100 emerging individuals across various disciplines such as sports, entertainment, technology, business, politics, science and advocacy who are deemed influential in shaping the next generation. The list is divided into five categories: Artists, Phenoms, Leaders, Advocates and Innovators.
In this year’s list, there are seven athletes: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Arch Manning, Tyrese Maxey, Naomi Girma, Alexandra Eala, Folarin Balogun and Olivia Miles. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the only Indian athlete selected for the list.
Reasons Behind the Selection of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The success journey of Sooryavanshi has been associated with many age records in cricket.
Sooryavanshi has started playing first-class cricket for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy at the age of 12 in 2024. He was then signed by Rajasthan Royals in ₹1 crore at 2025 IPL auction, making him the youngest player to be bought at an IPL auction.
Sooryavanshi made his IPL debut in 2025 when he was 14. In that year, he scored a century in just 35 balls against Gujarat Titans, making him the youngest man to score a century in T20 format of cricket and the fastest IPL century scorer by an Indian batsman till date.
During the 2026 IPL season, he continued breaking age records. He managed to score 776 runs in 16 games and won Orange Cap and Emerging Player of the Year title.
Indian Names on the 2026 TIME100 List
The principal list of TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026 is different from TIME100 Next. Some of the Indian names appearing in TIME100 are Sundar Pichai, Vikas Khanna, and Ranbir Kapoor.
Sundar Pichai
- Pichai, who is CEO of both Alphabet and Google, has been listed as a Titan in TIME100 list. In his list, TIME mentioned Pichai’s efforts in developing AI products for Google.
Vikas Khanna
- Innovator in time100, Vikas Khanna is an Indian chef and writer whose innovative efforts have been recognised by TIME.
- The efforts of Khanna in making connections between India and its culinary tradition with the global community have been appreciated by TIME.
Ranbir Kapoor
- Artist category includes the name of the famous Indian actor Ranbir Kapoor. The profile of Kapoor in TIME100 has been written by actor Ayushmann Khurrana.
Indian-Origin/Diaspora Honourees on TIME100 2026
Other individuals of Indian origin who made it to the 2026 TIME100 include the following. They should be distinguished from the three India-based/Indian honourees listed above.
The CEO of YouTube, Neal Mohan, was honoured for his contributions to the growth of the platform globally.
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, was also among those chosen by TIME100. His selection is in connection with his political career and success in New York City.
Dr Kiran Musunuru, an Indian American doctor and geneticist, was jointly honoured with Dr Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas for their contributions to personalised treatment using CRISPR.
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