India Told To Launch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi In 1st T20I Vs England

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut backed for 1st T20I vs ENG [Source: AFP/BCCI (X)]

India legend Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging India to unleash the teenager in the opening T20I against England as the ideal shock therapy after the 2-0 series defeat in Ireland. 

Gavaskar believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s fearless hitting and lack of international exposure could leave England blindsided, giving India the start they desperately need. 

The left-hander, who blazed his way to the Orange Cap among several other accolades with 776 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 237.30, did not play in Ireland but was fast-tracked into the squad. 

Sunil Gavaskar Backs Sooryavanshi To Play England T20Is

Gavaskar was firm in his expression and backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as being the quickest way to move past the Ireland series loss is to come out swinging in the first T20I in England. 

“If I might say, more than a tactical (but) from a temperament point of view, because England doesn't know what to expect. Some of them would have watched the Ireland matches and got some idea how to bowl to some of the Indian batters. But Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not played, so nobody has seen him,” he said to Sony Sports.

“All that they have seen of him are his videos of his IPL performances. So (if) he gets going, he can take the game away and that is what India needs at this particular point of time, after this loss, for somebody to make an impact straight away." Gavaskar said.

As per Gavaskar, a fresh face with nothing to lose can instantly alter the mood of a side that looked short of answers against Ireland. A blistering cameo at the top, Gavaskar mulls, could set the tone for the entire five-match contest and signal that India are hitting the reset button.

Also Read- Potential Changes India Could Make For England T20Is After Ireland Whitewash

The Top-Order Riddle With Samson, Sharma and Kishan

For all his excitement about Sooryavanshi, Gavaskar admitted that ramaging him into the playing XI is a “real tough one”. The current opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson has delivered their parts earlier to get the continuity, and Ishan Kishan’s presence at No. 3 creates another layer of solidity. 

“Both Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have done exceedingly well. You don’t want to break a partnership which has given you good results,” Gavaskar conceded. 

Even after two golden ducks for Samson in Ireland, the team management has shown no inclination to disturb the established top three. The numbers back the loyalty. 

Samson went into the series on the back of a World Cup-winning campaign and a prolific IPL. Meanwhile, both Abhishek and Kishan have been actively mentoring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the dugout.

“Abhishek Sharma is his competitor as a left-handed batter, but the way he speaks about him, and the way Ishan Kishan speaks to him, it is a very encouraging sign. They know he is a kid who has perhaps more than 20 years of cricket ahead,” he observed.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Play England T20Is?

While Gavaskar backed the prodigy, just a day before, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate spelt out the fact that nobody gets fast-tracked at the cost of a World Cup winner. 

“He’s absolutely ready to play international cricket, there’s no doubt about that. But also, I think it’s not a question to say you can leave Sanju Samson out. A guy who went a long way to winning India the World Cup three months ago,” coach Ryan ten Doeschate said. 

He stressed that the team management wants to “give guys a long run” and that Sooryavanshi, however irresistible, must “go through the same process as everyone else and bide his time and wait.” 

Even when India lacked a seam-bowling allrounder in Ireland, the think-tank didn’t shuffle the top order to accommodate the teenager. 

Washington Sundar played as a spin-bowling all-rounder instead. This means Sooryavanshi might just have to wait a little longer before his international debut.

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