‘I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut’: Sunil Gavaskar questions India’s call-up after Ireland defeat | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Legend of the boat in India Sunil Gavaskar expressed surprise over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s omission from the T20I series against Ireland, saying the teenage batting sensation should have been given his international debut ahead of the tougher England assignment.The 15-year-old, who enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, remained on the bench for the entire two-match series as India slumped to a shock 0-2 defeat against Ireland, including a dramatic one-run loss in the second T20I.“I was expecting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut in the Ireland series,” Gavaskar told India Today.“I think he would have played both games. That would have been a very good way to ease into international cricket before the more severe tests to come,” he added.Gavaskar said he had expected the team management to rotate the opening combination and allow Sooryavanshi to partner both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson during the series.“It was not expected when India went to Ireland. Because at that stage, I honestly thought that Ireland is not seen as a real threat, they will give the young Suryavanshi a debut in the first game with Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson. And in the second game again, one or the other. Then I would play both games,” he complains.
“These are the kind of players you don’t ignore”
Despite the Belfast miss, Gavaskar believes it’s only a matter of time before Sooryavanshi dons the India jersey.“He will definitely get his chance. These are the kind of players you don’t ignore for too long. If not in Ireland, then in the England series he should be around the mix,” Gavaskar said.The former India captain expects the upcoming five-match T20I series in England to provide the ideal opportunity for the youngster to make his debut.“I think he will play in one of the games, if not all the games in England,” he said.Gavaskar also pointed to Sooryavanshi’s extraordinary exploits in domestic cricket as the reason for the excitement surrounding him.“We saw the other day, coming to a half-century in List A cricket in just 11 deliveries, the fastest in List A cricket. These are things that are not thought of. These are things that are really, really very, very special,” Gavaskar said. “That’s why there is excitement around him. That’s why the belief is that he should play. And that’s why the desire of so many to see him in the colors of India.”Team management urges patienceIndia assistant manager Ryan ten Doeschate, however, defended the decision to keep Sooryavanshi on hold despite insisting the teenager is ready for the highest level.“He’s absolutely ready to play international cricket, there’s no doubt about it, but even Sanju Samson is a guy who went a long way to win the World Cup three months ago,” Ten Doeschate said after India’s series defeat.The Dutchman stressed that India wanted to keep faith in players who had already achieved at the international level.“It is important to give the players confidence… We are all excited to see Vaibhav play, but he has to go through the same process. Certainly there is no doubt how good he is.With India now heading to England for a five-match T20I series starting on July 1, the spotlight on Sooryavanshi’s long-awaited debut is expected to intensify again. If selected, the 15-year-old will become India’s youngest international cricketer, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record.
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