Former batting legend Sunil Gavaskar was surprised not to see 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not making his India debut during the two-match T20I against Ireland, which India lost 2-0. Gavaskar felt that the Ireland series would have been ideal to blood the teen batting sensation before tough series against big teams.
“I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut in the Ireland series,” Sunil Gavaskar told India Today, after India conceded the series following their narrow one-run loss in the second T20I on Sunday.
“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.
Gavaskar said Sooryavanshi could have opened the innings either with Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma in one of the matches against Ireland. But the batting legend said the youngster will get his chance sooner than later.
“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.
Meanwhile, Ireland edged India by just one run in the second T20I to complete a historic 2-0 series sweep. It was Ireland’s first-ever series win over India in any format. They had also beaten the reigning T20 world champions by 34 runs in the opening match.
Batting first, Ireland scored 154 for eight in their 20 overs. India came close in the chase but finished on 153 for nine, with Prince Yadav hitting a six off the final ball which was not enough to change the result.
India vice-captain Tilak Varma was the top scorer with 55 runs off 46 balls. Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard starred with the ball for Ireland, picking up three wickets each.
