Gavaskar’s Call for Sooryavanshi’s Debut

By Sanjay Menon — 29 June 2026 — 3 min read

Gavaskar’s Call for Sooryavanshi’s Debut

Cricket great Sunil Gavaskar has strongly advocated for the inclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s playing XI for the first match of the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. Gavaskar’s comments follow India’s recent series defeat in Ireland, where the team suffered a 0-2 whitewash.

According to Gavaskar, it is now imperative to give Sooryavanshi his India debut in England, particularly after the struggles faced by several batters in Ireland. Players like Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan reportedly had difficulties with the bat during the series.

Gavaskar expressed his view that the series in Ireland presented an ideal opportunity to test young players like Sooryavanshi. He believes that the team management missed a chance to try out the batter, despite his strong form.

Debate Over Team Selection

The decision to bench Sooryavanshi throughout the Ireland series has sparked debate among former players. While Gavaskar, Mohammed Kaif, and Manoj Tiwary have supported his inclusion, former India spinner R Ashwin has backed the team management’s approach.

Kaif criticized what he perceived as inconsistencies in the selection logic, questioning why Sooryavanshi was overlooked despite his recent performances. He highlighted that if the team was looking towards younger players, Sooryavanshi should have been considered.

Tiwary echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the coaching staff might be adhering to pre-conceived notions rather than acknowledging current form. He pointed out that players who performed well in the T20 World Cup, prior to the IPL, were chosen over those in recent good form.

Ashwin, however, argued that there was no immediate place for Sooryavanshi in the current XI. He suggested that if Sooryavanshi were to play, it should be during a tour where incumbent openers are not present, such as a tour to Zimbabwe. Ashwin emphasized that players like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who are not part of the Test or ODI teams, rely on the T20 format to maintain their relevance within the team structure.

Impact of Ireland Series and Future Considerations

India’s performance in Ireland, where they lost the series, has intensified the discussion around team composition. Gavaskar stated that with the batting line-up appearing uncertain after the Ireland matches, it is crucial to introduce Sooryavanshi to challenge the England bowlers.

He asserted that India must accommodate Sooryavanshi, even if it requires adjusting the batting order. Gavaskar suggested that out-of-form batters should be benched to make way for Sooryavanshi, who could either open or bat at number three.

Gavaskar also noted that while Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have performed well as openers in the past, it would be unfair to drop them after just two matches. He proposed that to include Sooryavanshi, a middle-order batter who has not scored runs could be dropped.

The debate surrounding Sooryavanshi’s debut now casts a shadow over India’s upcoming series against England. The series is expected to be considerably more challenging than the one in Ireland, making the team selection decisions even more critical for India.

Gavaskar believes that playing Sooryavanshi from the first game could surprise England and put them under pressure.

Source: m.rediff.com