Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has said he was surprised that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not get a debut during the ongoing two-match Ireland T20I series. The veteran batter feels the teenage sensation was ready for international exposure and believes the England white-ball series could be his next big opportunity under T20I captain Shreyas Iyer.
The Ireland tour had been viewed by many as a chance to test emerging players, especially after Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise through the IPL, which put him firmly in the national conversation.
“I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut in the Ireland series,” Sunil Gavaskar said, underlining his expectations from the tour selection. “I thought he would play both matches. That would have been a very good way of easing him into international cricket before the sterner tests that are coming up,” he added, stressing that the Ireland series offered a relatively controlled environment for a young batter to transition into international cricket.
Gavaskar believed India would pair Sooryavanshi with either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson as an opener in each of the two matches. India, however, opted for continuity, sticking with their established T20 World Cup-winning core as they looked to maintain stability in their playing XI. Despite coming into the series after a title-winning campaign, the management chose not to experiment heavily, prioritising experienced combinations at the top of the order and in the bowling unit.
Sooryavanshi’s selection had followed a standout IPL season in which the teenager emerged as one of the most exciting young batting talents in the country. His fearless approach, ability to take on international-quality bowling attacks, and maturity beyond his age had made him a talking point even before the squad was announced.
Yet, despite the hype, he remained on the bench in Ireland as India leaned on proven performers in a short two-match series where every result carried weight in shaping momentum for the next phase of their T20 cycle.
DEBUT VS ENGLAND?
Looking ahead, Gavaskar remains confident that Sooryavanshi’s wait will not be long.
“He will definitely get his chance,” Gavaskar said, suggesting that the youngster is very much in the selectors’ plans for the near future. “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,” he added, indicating that squad rotation and workload management could open the door for the teenager.
While India’s immediate focus remains on maintaining balance and consistency, Gavaskar’s remarks reflect a growing belief that Sooryavanshi is close to breaking into the senior side.
Gavaskar further stressed that modern T20 cricket often demands quick integration of form players, especially those showing fearless intent at the top of the order. He pointed out that India’s depth across formats allows selectors to manage transitions carefully without rushing players unnecessarily. At the same time, he acknowledged that exceptional talent rarely stays out of contention for long.
For now, the teenager continues to be one of the most closely watched prospects in Indian cricket, with expectations building steadily around when he will finally make his international debut. However, with India preparing for a busy white-ball calendar, opportunities through rotation, injuries, or tactical changes could easily open the door for Sooryavanshi sooner rather than later.
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