‘Play him in the first game’: Sunil Gavaskar urges India to release Vaibhav Sooryavanshi against England | Cricket News

MUMBAI: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has backed teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his debut for India in the opening T20I against England in Durham on Wednesday, saying the 15-year-old could provide the spark India desperately need after their disappointing 0-2 series loss to Ireland.India’s batting unit has struggled throughout the Ireland series under new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, prompting calls for changes ahead of the five-match series against England. Gavaskar believes that Sooryavanshi’s unpredictability could work in India’s favour.“I hope Sooryavanshi plays the first game because it will be the start of a new series and it will get the team off to a flying start. It is the best way to recover from the series loss against Ireland,” Gavaskar said.He admitted that Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the playing XI would be a challenge given the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, but argued that England’s lack of familiarity with the youngster could be a deciding factor.“So if he gets on, he can take the game and I think that’s what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, is for someone to make an impact immediately. So, the host nation England is put on the backfoot immediately,” Gavaskar added.

Sunil Gavaskar backs Iyer, says patience is required

Despite Shreyas Iyer’s poor start as India’s T20I captain, Gavaskar urged patience, pointing out that adapting to leadership at the international level takes time.“I think with any new relationship, there’s always just going to be a little bit of time to understand the support staff and the playing staff to understand what’s expected of them,” he said.“Shreyas Iyer’s leadership has been tested over the years in the T20 format. We’ve seen him win trophies, win titles and put teams in the knockouts and put teams in the finals.”Gavaskar also felt that India’s batsmen needed to adapt better to the conditions after struggling on the seaming pitches in Belfast.“In any form of the game and virtually any sport, I think you play the situation,” he said, adding that shot selection and decision-making let India down in Ireland.Gavaskar also backed Rohit Sharma to silence doubts about his future during the upcoming ODI series against England.“So I think England is a very good platform for him to show that even a year and a half down the road, he will be there opening the batting for India,” he said.On England pacer Jofra Archer, Gavaskar said his impact often depends on his mindset on the day.“He’s a first-class bowler and you know, if he is, if he could say, if he could use the word, if he’s in a mood, he can cause problems for somebody,” he said.Gavaskar added that Ben Stokes’ retirement did not entirely surprise him, although he had expected the England all-rounder to step down at the end of the home season rather than immediately.(Watch India Tour of England 2026, England vs India, 1st T20I on July 1, 2026, from 10:00 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD, Sony MAX).