Shastri Wants India to Hand Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a Debut Soon

Ravi Shastri believes India missed an opportunity by leaving out Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for their T20I series in Ireland, and says the teenager should be given a debut without delay.

The former India head coach felt the slow, spongy pitches in Ireland suited the 15-year-old’s fearless batting and that he could have made a real impact. India lost that two-match series 0-2.

Uncertain about England

Shastri said he was not sure whether Sooryavanshi would be picked during the ongoing T20I series in England, but stressed the sooner the better. Speaking on Sony Sports Network, he pointed to the batter’s IPL record and asked which fast bowler he had spared, questioning why he was sitting on the bench.

Sooryavanshi did not play in the first T20I at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday. With Sanju Samson now having made a third successive low score after Ireland, speculation has grown that the teenager could get his first cap in the second T20I at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The X-factor argument

Shastri described Sooryavanshi as an X-factor with no baggage and no fear, thanks to the exuberance of youth. He said that even two or three overs at the top of the order could give the middle order a strong platform, so India should find him a place in the XI, and the earlier the better.