'Expected Sooryavanshi to debut': Gavaskar questions India's call after Ireland setback

NEW DELHI: India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed surprise over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's omission from the T20I series against Ireland, saying the teenage batting sensation should have been handed his international debut before the tougher assignment in England.The 15-year-old, who enjoyed a sensational 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 dramatic one-run loss in the second T20I."I expected Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to debut in the Ireland series," Gavaskar told India Today."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 he had expected the team management to rotate the opening combination and allow Sooryavanshi to partner either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson during the series."Not expected when India went to Ireland. Because at that stage, I honestly thought that with Ireland not being seen as a real threat, they would give young Suryavanshi a debut in the first game with either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson. And in the second game again, either of them. So he would play both the matches," he lamented.'These are the kind of players you don't ignore'Despite missing out in Belfast, Gavaskar believes it is only a matter of time before Sooryavanshi wears the India jersey."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.The former India captain expects the upcoming five-match T20I series in England to provide the ideal opportunity for the youngster to make his debut."I think he will play in one of the matches, if not all the matches in England," he said.Gavaskar also pointed to Sooryavanshi's extraordinary exploits in domestic cricket as the reason behind the excitement surrounding him."We saw the other day, who gets to a half-century in List A cricket in just 11 deliveries, the fastest in List A cricket. These are things which are unthinkable. These are things which are really, really very, very special," Gavaskar said. "That is why there is excitement around him. That is why the belief is that he should be played. And that is why the desire of so many to see him don the India colours."Team management urges patienceIndia assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, however, defended the decision to keep Sooryavanshi waiting despite insisting the teenager is ready for the highest level."He is absolutely ready to play international cricket, there is no doubt about that, but also Sanju Samson is a guy who went a long way to win us the World Cup three months ago," Ten Doeschate said after India's series defeat.The Dutchman stressed that India wanted to maintain faith in players who had already delivered at the international level."It is important to give players confidence... We are all excited to see Vaibhav play but he has to go through the same process. Certainly no question about how good he is."With India now heading to England for a five-match T20I series beginning on July 1, the spotlight on Sooryavanshi's long-awaited debut is expected to intensify again. If selected, the 15-year-old will become India's youngest-ever international cricketer, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.