Sunil Gavaskar Backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for England T20Is, Suggests No. 3 Role Without Dropping Samson or Abhishek
Gavaskar Urges India to Give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an Immediate Opportunity
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes Team India should hand young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity in the upcoming T20I series against England. Instead of replacing regular openers Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma, Gavaskar has proposed a change in the batting order that would allow all three players to feature in the playing XI.
His comments come after India’s disappointing 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland, where the batting unit failed to deliver consistently.
Ireland Series Raises Questions Over India’s Batting
India entered the Ireland series with high expectations under the new leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, but the visitors suffered defeats in both matches.
Sanju Samson managed scores of 5 and 0, while Abhishek Sharma followed up a promising 49 in the opening game with a duck in the second match. The underwhelming performances have sparked debate over possible changes ahead of the England series beginning on July 1.
Gavaskar Wants Sooryavanshi in the XI From the First Match
Speaking about India’s team selection, Gavaskar insisted that Sooryavanshi deserves an immediate chance.
According to the batting legend, the young left-hander has shown enough form to justify his selection and should not be kept waiting despite India’s recent losses.
He also pointed out that the Ireland series would have been an ideal platform to test emerging players before a tougher challenge against England.
No Need to Drop Samson or Abhishek
Rather than removing either of India’s regular openers, Gavaskar suggested shifting the batting order.
His proposed combination includes:
- Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson opening the innings.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi batting at No. 3.
- Ishan Kishan at No. 4.
- Shreyas Iyer at No. 5.
Gavaskar believes both Samson and Abhishek have contributed significantly over the past year and should not lose their places after just two disappointing outings.
Middle Order Should Make Way if Required
The former India captain argued that if any changes are necessary, they should come in the middle order rather than among the opening pair.
He emphasized that Sooryavanshi’s inclusion could add a fresh dimension to India’s batting while maintaining stability at the top.
According to Gavaskar, the youngster’s fearless approach could surprise England, particularly if the hosts underestimate India following the Ireland series defeat.
Chance to Catch England Off Guard
Gavaskar feels England may enter the series with confidence after India’s recent struggles, creating an opportunity for the visitors to spring a surprise.
He believes introducing an aggressive young batter like Sooryavanshi from the opening game could disrupt England’s plans and provide India with an early advantage.
Even if the youngster fails, Gavaskar believes the experience would be valuable, while success could significantly boost India’s chances in the five-match series.
England Series Becomes Crucial for India
The five-match T20I series against England now carries added importance after India’s disappointing tour of Ireland.
With questions surrounding the batting order and team combination, selectors and team management must decide whether to trust experienced players or inject fresh energy into the squad.
If Gavaskar’s recommendation is followed, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could soon make his long-awaited international debut in one of India’s biggest white-ball assignments of the year.
