New Delhi: After their 2-0 series loss against Ireland, India might have to find ways to slot the generational talent Vaibhav Sooryanshi into their playing XI in the upcoming T20I series against England.  

The Indian Team management has insisted on following a process as they look to ease the 15-year-old into international cricket. However, the team’s shock series defeat against Ireland has led to growing calls for the teenage sensation’s inclusion in the playing XI against England.

The Indian team management might not want to alter the opening duo of the World Cup, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who made no errors in the big tournament and deserved to play the very next T20I series for India, but the question arises: how could Sooryavanshi get a place in the playing XI?

Team selection is never easy, but the think tank has to find solutions in the five-match T20I series against England. The wickets are expected to be slightly flatter as they have behaved in the past few seasons. 

Speaking on Aaj Tak, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar said that Vaibhav should have made the cut in the playing XI in the Ireland series, with the form he has been in. Gavaskar feels Samson and Abhishek could have been picked in one series each, and Sooryavanshi should have played both the games, as it was a nice platform to test his talent. He further stressed that Sooryavanshi needs to play in the first game against England.

“Against Ireland, the kind of form that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was in coming into the series, he could have been picked up for both games. You could have picked Abhishek and Samson in one game each and played Sooryavanshi in both games. It was a good platform to try talented youth,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Aaj Tak.  

“You have to play him from the first game in England. The team management needs to drop out form batters and play Sooryavanshi. Either you fit him in No. 3, keeping both your openers but whatever it is Sooryavanshi has to play in the first game in England on July 1. If you want to shock England in the first game, then Sooryavanshi must play,” Gavaskar added.  

Sooryavanshi can be slotted in at no.3 if the Indian team management doesn’t want to tinker with the opening pairing of Samson and Abhishek in the England series. However, that would mean the likes of Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer and others will have to shift from their current positions. India can make way for Sooryavanshi by dropping Suryansh Shedge from the XI.

The Indian think tank needs to make some big calls ahead of the first T20I against England. In an ideal scenario, India might drop Samson to pair Sooryavanshi with Abhishek at the top which will make for an explosive pairing. Samson bagged back-to-back ducks in both matches against Ireland and failed to make the most of the opportunity.

Curated by Shriti Mazumdar