Sunil Gavaskar criticises team management over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’ snub in the IND vs IRE series

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar is shocked that 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was not given the opportunity to make his international debut against Ireland. The entire nation was anticipating Vaibhav's debut, yet the management persisted with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma—even though Team India ultimately suffered a 0-2 series defeat. He expressed hope that Vaibhav would now certainly get a chance in the upcoming five-match T20I series against England—an opportunity that was expected to materialise during the Ireland series itself.

"I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut in the Ireland series," Sunil Gavaskar said.

"I thought he would play both matches. That would have been a very good way of easing him into international cricket before the sterner tests that are coming up," he added.

Sunil Gavaskar further stated that Vaibhav should have been given the chance to open the innings alongside either Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma against Ireland. After his stellar performance in IPL 2026, he should not be kept waiting too long to make his debut.

“He will definitely get his chance. These are the kind of players you don't ignore for too long. If not in Ireland, then in the England series he should be around the mix," Gavaskar said. 

Ireland registered their first-ever match and historic series victory over India. They defeated India by 34 runs in the first T20I and by 1 run in the second T20I. Now, the Indian team will play the 5-match T20I series against England from July 1 at Chester-le-Street, followed by July 4 at Manchester, July 7 at Nottingham, July 9 at Bristol & July 11 at Southampton. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been knocking on the Indian team door for a long while. He was the second-highest run-getter in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, scoring 439 runs, including 175 runs in 80 balls in the final. He won the most valuable player award, the Orange Cap for scoring 776 runs, the most sixes award for hitting 72 sixes, and a few more awards in the recently held IPL 2026. After which, every Indian cricket fan is demanding his India debut. When he was selected in the India squad for the Ireland, England and Asian Games 2026, it seemed that he would get a chance in the Ireland tour. However, against Ireland, he didn’t get a chance in the playing XI.