Gavaskar advocates for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in England series opener

By Karan Malhotra — 29 June 2026 — 3 min read

Calls for Sooryavanshi’s debut

Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar has strongly advocated for the inclusion of young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s playing XI for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. Gavaskar believes Sooryavanshi should play from the first match, which is scheduled for July 1. This recommendation follows India’s recent performance in Ireland, where they experienced a series defeat.

Gavaskar stated that after India’s showing in Ireland, it is now non-negotiable for the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi to make his India debut in England. He emphasized that if India aims to put pressure on England from the opening game, Sooryavanshi’s presence is crucial. The batting great also suggested that the series in Ireland would have been an ideal opportunity to test out the young talent.

During the Ireland series, several Indian batters, including Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan, faced difficulties with the bat. Captain Shreyas Iyer managed a limited number of runs across two games, a tally matched by Ishan Kishan. Opener Sanju Samson also struggled in both matches, while all-rounders Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar did not make a significant impact with their batting.

Debate over team selection

Gavaskar criticized India’s team management for not including Sooryavanshi in the Ireland series, highlighting his strong form. He suggested that Sooryavanshi could have opened with Abhishek Sharma in one game, or batted lower in the order, allowing Samson to open. While acknowledging that there is no guarantee Sooryavanshi would have secured a win, Gavaskar stressed that the Ireland series was the appropriate time to try new players.

The decision to bench Sooryavanshi throughout the series against Ireland has led to differing opinions among former players. While Gavaskar, Mohammed Kaif, and Manoj Tiwary support his inclusion, former India spinner R Ashwin offered a different perspective. Ashwin suggested that there might not be an immediate place for Sooryavanshi in the current XI, arguing that players like Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who do not play Test or ODI cricket, need the T20 format to maintain their relevance within the team structure.

Ashwin argued that if Sooryavanshi were to play, he should be sent on tours where incumbent openers are not present, such as a potential Zimbabwe tour. He also noted that if T20 cricketers do not get opportunities, it could be unfair, especially in a year focused on ODI World Cup preparation. Ashwin concluded that while Sooryavanshi’s merit warrants a place, it should not come at the expense of current openers, unless due to a loss of form or an injury.

Tactical considerations for England series

Gavaskar believes that with India’s batting line-up appearing uncertain after the Ireland series, it is essential to bring in Sooryavanshi to challenge the England bowlers. He asserted that India must play Sooryavanshi from the first match in England, even if it requires adjusting the batting order. Gavaskar suggested that India should bench out-of-form batters to accommodate Sooryavanshi.

He proposed options such as Sooryavanshi opening the batting or batting at number three. Gavaskar acknowledged that while Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have performed well as openers, dropping them after only two matches would be unfair. Therefore, he suggested dropping a middle-order batter who has not scored runs, allowing Sooryavanshi to bat at number three, followed by Ishan Kishan at number four, and Shreyas Iyer at number five. The first match of the England series is scheduled for July 1.