Gavaskar urges Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in England T20I series
29.06.2026
Following India’s recent performance in Ireland, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has strongly advocated for the immediate inclusion of young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XI for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England. The series is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, with Gavaskar emphasizing that Sooryavanshi must start from the very first match.
Gavaskar’s call comes after India’s disappointing 0-2 series whitewash against Ireland. He described the loss as one of the lowest points in Indian cricket history, attributing it to overconfidence and a casual approach rather than exceptional play from the opposition. He noted that the series in Ireland presented an ideal opportunity to introduce young talent like Sooryavanshi to international cricket.
The batting struggles in Ireland were evident across several key players. New captain Shreyas Iyer, for instance, had a challenging series, managing only 13 runs across two games. This tally was matched by Ishan Kishan. Opener Sanju Samson also failed to make a significant impact in both matches. Furthermore, all-rounders Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar did not perform well with the bat.
Addressing Batting Concerns
Gavaskar has been vocal about Sooryavanshi’s inclusion for some time, stating that the young batter’s form warranted a place in the Ireland series. He suggested that Sooryavanshi could have opened with Abhishek Sharma in one game, or been moved down the order in another, allowing Samson to open. While acknowledging that there is no guarantee of a different outcome, Gavaskar stressed that the Ireland series was the opportune moment to try out young players.
With the Indian batting line-up appearing shaky after the Ireland debacle, Gavaskar believes that bringing in the explosive Sooryavanshi is now a necessity to exert pressure on the England bowlers. He asserted that there are no excuses left, and India must play Sooryavanshi from the first match in England.
The former captain suggested that India might need to rejig their batting order to accommodate Sooryavanshi. He proposed dropping out-of-form batters to make way for him. Sooryavanshi could either open the innings or bat at number three, according to Gavaskar. He highlighted that while Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have performed well as openers over the past year and a half, it would be unfair to drop them after just two matches.
Therefore, to integrate Sooryavanshi, Gavaskar suggested dropping a middle-order batter who has not been scoring runs. His proposed batting order includes Sooryavanshi at number three, Ishan Kishan at number four, and Shreyas Iyer at number five. This adjustment, he believes, would allow India to shock England from the very first game.
Impact of the Ireland Series
The Ireland series loss was particularly disheartening for Indian cricket, with Gavaskar drawing parallels to the overconfidence seen in the West Indies team during the 1983 World Cup final. He observed a similar casualness in the approach of the Indian batters against Ireland, where many tried to maintain their image rather than adapting to the match situation. The pitches in Ireland offered extra carry and bounce, leading to easy dismissals against smart bowling and good catching.
Gavaskar also touched upon the performance of the Indian women’s team, noting their loss to Australia, which did not improve the overall sentiment of the day for Indian cricket. He also mentioned their abysmal fielding against South Africa, which led to a loss from a strong position and virtually eliminated them from their tournament. He raised questions about player fitness, suggesting that playing injured players might imply a lack of confidence in reserve players.
Despite the setbacks, Gavaskar emphasized that every game serves as a learning experience. He expressed hope that both the men’s and women’s teams would learn from these recent performances, preventing similar disappointing Sundays for Indian cricket enthusiasts in the future. The first match of the T20I series against England is scheduled for July 1.
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Source: rediff.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.