The debate over India’s next generation of cricketers is growing stronger and 15 years old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is right at the center of it. Despite being one of the country’s most exciting young batting talents, the teenager is still waiting for his first international appearance after missing out during India’s T20I series against Ireland, which ended in a 0-2 defeat.
Now, ahead of the opening T20I against England in Durham, former India selector Sarandeep Singh has publicly backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the playing XI. He believes the youngster deserves an opportunity and feels the team management should think about the future while making selection decisions.
Sarandeep Singh said he was surprised that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not get a chance during the Ireland series. In his view, selectors and team management sometimes need to make difficult decisions, including resting senior players, to provide opportunities for promising youngsters who could become long-term assets for Indian cricket.
The former selector also emphasised the importance of following a proper rotation policy. He believes that if India wants to build a strong team for the future, young players cannot continue sitting on the bench. Instead, they should be given regular opportunities to gain international experience while senior players are rotated when required.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s recent performances have only strengthened the calls for his debut. The teenage batter impressed during the IPL before producing a remarkable innings of 94 runs from just 29 balls for India A during their tour of Sri Lanka. His fearless stroke play and ability to score quickly have convinced many experts that he is ready for the next level.
Sarandeep Singh feels there is no better time than now to test the youngster in international cricket. According to him, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is in outstanding form and has already shown that he possesses the talent to win matches on his own. Delaying his debut could mean missing the ideal moment to help him grow as an international player.
Looking beyond T20 cricket, Sarandeep Singh also believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the ability to succeed in all the three formats. He pointed out that the youngster already represents Bihar in the Ranji Trophy, giving him valuable red-ball experience. With the right guidance and consistent opportunities, he believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the potential to become a complete multi-format player for India.
Well, Sarandeep Singh is certainly making sense, what do you think?
