Debate continues over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut amid England T20I series

By Sanjay Menon — 3 July 2026 — 3 min read

The potential debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India continues to be a central topic of discussion within the cricket community. This comes as India prepares to face England in a five-match T20 International series. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has voiced his disagreement with the approach taken by India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate regarding Sooryavanshi’s inclusion.

Ryan ten Doeschate had previously stated that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket but needs to follow the established process. He also highlighted the contributions of Sanju Samson, who played a role in a World Cup victory three months prior and had a good IPL season. Ten Doeschate emphasised the importance of giving players a long run in the team to build confidence.

Differing Views on Sooryavanshi’s Debut

AB de Villiers, however, believes that the Ireland series presented a perfect opportunity for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to gain international experience, especially against a lower-ranked team. De Villiers expressed his view on his YouTube channel, suggesting that after Sooryavanshi’s performance in the IPL, he should have been given a chance earlier, disagreeing with the notion that he must go through the same process as any other player.

The debate intensified following Sanju Samson’s struggles in three consecutive innings. Cricket figures such as Ravi Shastri, Michael Vaughan, and Alastair Cook had also previously suggested that Sooryavanshi should have debuted in the two-T20I series against Ireland. Conversely, Cheteshwar Pujara and Saba Karim hold the opinion that Sooryavanshi’s inclusion should not displace an established performer.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged the disbelief within the team after a 0-2 series defeat to Ireland. This outcome could prompt significant changes. The management might consider benching players like Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan, both of whom had disappointing performances against Ireland, to make way for Sooryavanshi. Samson, despite a strong showing in the latter part of the T20 World Cup and scoring two centuries in the IPL, has faced recent difficulties.

Challenges Ahead for India’s Batting

The decision-makers, including chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, are known for making tough choices. They have previously handed debuts to players like Suryansh Shedge and Prince Yadav against Ireland, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi awaited his national cap. However, Sooryavanshi’s inclusion is not seen as a complete solution to India’s batting issues, which were evident in challenging conditions in Belfast against Ireland.

Indian batters struggled to adapt to pitches that assisted pacers, finding it difficult to maintain aggressive batting. This was highlighted in their chases of achievable targets like 183 and 155, where impatience was a recurring theme. As India faces England, similar conditions are anticipated, with England’s bowling attack featuring pace bowlers like Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood, and Sonny Baker, alongside spinners Aadil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed.

The average T20I score at the Riverside Ground is 138 across eight previous matches, indicating bowler dominance. India’s new T20I captain, Shreyas Iyer, will aim to avoid another series defeat. England’s batting lineup includes strong players such as captain Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Phil Salt, and Tom Banton. The Indian bowlers will need a more organised effort, particularly from spinners like Axar Patel, Suryansh Shedge, and Washington Sundar, who have been largely ineffective in recent matches.

The India squad for the series includes Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Suryansh Shedge, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan (wk), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Prince Yadav, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. England’s playing XI features Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, and Saqib Mahmood. The first T20I against England is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. IST.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com