NEW DELHI: A legend of fighting in India Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his surprise that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not dropped from the T20I series against Ireland, saying that the young batsman should have been given his international debut before taking on the tough task in England.The 15-year-old, who enjoyed an impressive IPL 2026 campaign, remained on the bench throughout the two-match series as India slumped to a shock 0-2 defeat against Ireland, including a shock one-wicket loss in the second T20I.“I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to start for Ireland,” Gavaskar told India Today.“I thought he would play both matches. That would be the best way to help him enter international cricket for the tough tests ahead,” he added.Gavaskar said he expected the team management to rotate the opening and allow Sooryavanshi to join Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson in the lineup.“It was not expected when India went to Ireland. Because at that time, I honestly thought that it is Ireland so that they don’t look like a real threat, they will give young Suryavanshi his debut in the first game with Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson. And in the second game again, any of them. So he will play both matches,” he complained.
‘These are the players you don’t ignore’
Despite his absence in Belfast, Gavaskar believes that it is only a matter of time before Sooryavanshi dons the Indian jersey.“He will certainly get his chance. These are the kind of players you don’t ignore for a long time. If not in Ireland, then in the England series he should be close to the mix,” Gavaskar said.The former India captain is hoping the upcoming five-match T20I series in England will give the youngster a chance to make a fresh start.“I think he will play one of the games, if not every game in England,” he said.Gavaskar also cited Sooryavanshi’s success in domestic cricket as the reason he was impressed.“We saw the other day, who reaches half-century in List A cricket in just 11 deliveries, the fastest in List A cricket. These are things that are unimaginable. These are things that are really, really, very special,” said Gavaskar. “That’s why there is excitement around him. That’s why the belief is that he should be played. That’s why the desire of many people to see him wearing the colors of India.”Team leadership encourages patienceIndia’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, however, defended the idea of ​​Sooryavanshi waiting even as he insisted that the youngster is ready for the best.“He is ready to play international cricket, there is no doubt about that, and Sanju Samson is the man who went a long way to win us the World Cup three months ago,” Ten Doeschate said after India’s series defeat.The Dutchman confirmed that India wanted to keep faith in the players who had already delivered at the international level.“It is important to give confidence to the players… We are all happy to see Vaibhav play but he has to go through the same process. There is certainly no question about how good he is.”With India now traveling to England for a five-match T20I series starting July 1, Sooryavanshi’s much-anticipated spotlight is set to intensify once again. If selected, the 15-year-old will become the youngest cricketer in all of India, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.