Sunil Gavaskar would like to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s side for the first T20I against England. India start the five-match series after their first bilateral T20I series loss to Ireland, and Gavaskar thinks the aggressive left-hander can give them the explosive start they need.
The Selection Puzzle
Speaking at a Sony Sports event, Gavaskar said a flying start in a new series would be the best way to recover from the Ireland result. He accepted that fitting the 15-year-old in would be tough, given how well openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have done, and said you do not want to split a partnership that has produced good results.
The Element of Surprise
Sooryavanshi did not play against Ireland, so England have seen little of him beyond his IPL footage. Gavaskar said England may have studied how to bowl to the other Indian batters, but not to him. If he gets going, he can take the game away, which is what India need straight after the Ireland loss.
A Supportive Dressing Room
Gavaskar also praised the way senior players are helping him. Abhishek Sharma, though he competes for a similar role, keeps guiding him, and Ishan Kishan has also helped. He said they know he is a youngster with a long future.
Still, he stressed that players learn when sitting out too, by watching how seniors prepare and handle failure. At the top level, he said, temperament often matters more than technique.
All eyes will be on whether the team management gives Sooryavanshi his international debut.
