India has opted to delay the debut of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the first T20I against Ireland in Belfast. Captain Shreyas Iyer confirmed that Sooryavanshi was not included in the playing XI for the opening match of the series. This decision comes despite significant anticipation surrounding the young player, who was widely expected to become the youngest cricketer to represent India, potentially surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record.
Iyer explained that the team management chose to back senior players who were part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad. He stated that while Sooryavanshi is a talented player, the team prioritised experienced individuals who have performed well in recent series. This match marks India’s first T20I since their World Cup victory in March.
Squad selection rationale
Captain Shreyas Iyer elaborated on the team composition, noting that India would feature three genuine seamers, one all-rounder, and two spinners. The all-rounder role was filled by Shivam Dube, with Axar Patel and Washington Sundar selected as the spinners. Iyer indicated that Sooryavanshi would receive an opportunity when the time is right, but for now, the focus is on the established players.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar supported the decision, commending India for resisting the urge to rush the young player. Manjrekar highlighted the strong performances of players like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the World Cup, making it difficult to drop them. He noted that Abhishek Sharma scored a fifty off 20 balls in the World Cup final, and Samson’s last three scores were 93 not out, 89, and 89.
Manjrekar also pointed out that India had dropped a key World Cup-winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav, suggesting a focus on cricketing merit. He expressed satisfaction that the team had not been overly influenced by the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi, believing the young player has time to wait for his turn.
Anticipation and past performances
The anticipation for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut had been building for more than two weeks since his selection in India’s T20I squad. His recent performances have been notable, including a match-winning 94 runs from just 28 balls against Sri Lanka A in a one-day tri-series final, where he reached his fifty in just 11 deliveries, setting a new List A record.
In the IPL 2026, Sooryavanshi was the highest run-scorer, amassing 776 runs in 16 matches with a strike rate of 237.30. He also hit 72 sixes, surpassing a long-standing single-season record. His contributions included 97 runs off 29 balls in the Eliminator and 96 runs in Qualifier 2, helping his team through the playoffs.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, addressed the situation before the match, acknowledging Sooryavanshi’s talent. Kotak stated that while Sooryavanshi possesses natural abilities, it would be unfair to drop a player who has consistently scored runs just to provide an opportunity. He emphasised the delicate balance between giving new talent a chance and being fair to existing performers.
The playing XI for India in the first T20I against Ireland included Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna. Ireland’s team was led by new captain Lorcan Tucker, who also served as wicketkeeper, and included Tim Tector, Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Benjamin Calitz, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Liam McCarthy, Matthew Humphreys, Jai Moondra, and Matthew Hollard.
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Source: m.rediff.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter