Calls to include Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s playing XI have grown manifold since India’s historic drubbing by Ireland in the recently concluded two-match T20I series, with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar even expressing surprise at the youngster’s exclusion in Ireland.
After hammering Ireland in all of their eight previous T20I clashes, India conceded their first-ever series loss to Ireland, losing by 34 runs and one run in Belfast as Shreyas Iyer had a forgettable initiation as T20I skipper.
On a slow and bouncy pitch in Belfast, which was in contrast to the flat tracks in India, the hosts produced two clinical displays of bowling and fielding to seal their maiden series triumph over the Asian giants.
Captain Iyer admitted that while India’s bowlers “were phenomenal in terms of their executions,” it were the batting that let the team down: “We fell a bit short in our batting,” and Ireland “definitely outplayed us in that department.”
So was the missing piece in India’s puzzle the ultra-aggression of Sooryavanshi?
IND vs ENG: Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Replace Sanju Samson In 1st T20I against England?
There’s not much time for India to dwell on their shortcomings against Ireland as the five-match T20I series against England kicks off on July 1 in Chester-le-Street.
India would like to make quick amends and play like the reigning T20 World Cup champions that they are against Harry Brook’s team.
There are calls for Sooryavanshi to replace Sanju Samson, who had a poor series with scores of 5 and 0. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was queried the same in the post-series press conference in Belfast.
Doeschate hailed Sooryavanshi’s talent and form, asserting that the 15-year-old is “absolutely ready to play” for India. But he reaffirmed that there are processes to be followed; that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his turn as Sanju Samson had not too long ago helped India win the T20 World Cup through three consecutive epic performances.
“He’s absolutely ready to play international cricket, there’s no doubt about that. But also, I think it’s not a question to say you can leave Sanju Samson out. A guy who went a long way to winning India the World Cup three months ago. A guy who’s had a fairly good IPL,” ten Doeschate said.
“It’s important in terms of giving players confidence, and the message we’re sending to players. We want to give guys a long run in the team.
“So, you know, as ready as Vaibhav is and as excited as we are and you are to see him play, he’s going to have to go through the same process as everyone else and, you know, bide his time and wait. But certainly no questions about how good he is and how ready he is,” the assistant coach added.
Sooryavanshi had broken the door down on the national T20I team through a scintillating IPL 2026 season. He bagged the Orange Cap for blasting 776 runs, which he mauled at a strike rate of 237.
However, the trio of Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan Kishan are the incumbent top three following their feats in the T20 World Cup. One thing is clear, though, that India won’t be able to keep Sooryavanshi on the bench for a long time, and that could require making one or two big calls and even changing the combination of the side.
IND vs ENG: When is the 1st T20I between India and England?
The India vs England T20I series will begin on July 1 at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. The match is scheduled to start at 10 PM IST. It will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network channels, and the live streaming will be available on the Sony Liv app and website.
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