Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rapid rise to the Indian senior team has earned the backing of Sunil Gavaskar, with the batting legend calling for the 15-year-old to be handed an immediate opportunity during the upcoming T20I series against Ireland.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Gavaskar said India should not hesitate to leave out one of their established openers if it allows Sooryavanshi to feature in both matches of the two-game series in Dublin.
The teenager earned his maiden India call-up after a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign, with his performances proving impossible for the selectors to ignore. Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season, dazzling fans with his fearless batting and remarkable composure despite his age. His exploits in the IPL convinced the selectors that he was ready for the next step in his career.
At present, the opening spots are occupied by Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, both of whom played key roles in India’s successful T20 World Cup title defence earlier this year. Ishan Kishan is also part of the squad, giving India several established options at the top of the order. However, Gavaskar believes there is enough flexibility within the squad to accommodate the teenager.
“I’ll pick him for the Ireland T20Is for sure. I’d like to see him play in the Ireland T20Is,” Gavaskar said.
“Give him a chance ahead of, say, maybe Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma. Maybe in one match Abhishek Sharma is left out. In another match, Sanju Samson is left out.”
For Gavaskar, the Ireland series presents the perfect opportunity to test Sooryavanshi at the international level. With India looking to build depth ahead of future ICC events, the former captain feels exposing young talent to international cricket early can only strengthen the team’s long-term prospects.
HOW COULD YOU LEAVE SOORYAVANSHI OUT?
For Gavaskar, Sooryavanshi’s selection was less a surprise and more an inevitability.
The former India captain said the teenager’s performances during IPL 2026 left the selectors with little choice but to reward him with a place in the national side. In a tournament packed with established stars and international names, Sooryavanshi repeatedly stood out with his fearless approach and ability to score runs under pressure.
“Well, it was expected, wasn’t it? Look at the form that he was in. Look at the number of runs that he scored. How could you leave him out of the squad after that?” Gavaskar said.
The batting great stressed that performances must be rewarded, particularly in the T20 format where confidence and momentum often play a significant role.
“You’ve got to reward performance, and I think that’s what they’ve done.”
While Gavaskar wants Sooryavanshi to get game time in Ireland, he also acknowledged the value of simply being around the senior side at such an early stage of his career.
India’s dressing room currently features some of the most accomplished players in white-ball cricket. The chance to train alongside them, understand the demands of international cricket and observe how elite professionals prepare could prove invaluable for a teenager who is only beginning his journey at the highest level.
Whether he breaks into the playing XI immediately or not, Gavaskar feels the experience of being part of the setup will only accelerate Sooryavanshi’s development.
“So whether he gets to play matches, we’ll have to wait and see. But whatever it is, for him to be in that Indian dressing room will be a great learning experience as well, which will serve him in good stead as his career takes off.”
For now, though, Gavaskar’s message to the team management is clear: if Sooryavanshi is good enough to be selected, he is good enough to play.
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