India considers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s integration into T20 squad

By Rohan Gupta — 29 June 2026 — 3 min read

India’s T20 squad faces selection challenge

The Indian cricket team is currently facing a significant selection challenge regarding the integration of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into its T20 squad. This discussion has intensified following recent losses to Ireland. The team management is tasked with balancing the inclusion of new talent with the need to maintain team stability and performance ahead of the upcoming series against England.

The question of how to incorporate Sooryavanshi’s talent into an established side was present at the beginning of the tour. After the unexpected losses to Ireland, the need to find a way to include him appears to be a clear answer for some.

Gavaskar advocates for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has strongly advocated for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion. He suggested that Sooryavanshi could have been selected for both games against Ireland, with the opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson playing one game each. Gavaskar stressed the importance of playing Sooryavanshi from the first game in England, suggesting that the team management should consider dropping batters who are out of form to make space for him.

Gavaskar further stated that if India aims to surprise England in the first game, Sooryavanshi must play. He believes this would be an ideal platform to introduce talented youth to international cricket.

Reshaping the batting line-up

Integrating Sooryavanshi could necessitate adjustments to India’s batting order. If the team management prefers not to alter the Samson–Abhishek opening combination, other batters, such as Ishan Kishan, might need to shift down a position. A potential new order could see Sooryavanshi batting at number three, followed by Kishan at number four, Shreyas Iyer at number five, Tilak Varma at number six, Shivam Dube at number seven, and Axar Patel at number eight.

This proposed lineup assumes that Suryansh Shedge would not be included in the first game against England. Flexibility would be maintained for positions five through eight, depending on match conditions and the requirement for left-right batting combinations. If Shivam Dube plays at number seven, he would be expected to contribute with four overs of bowling on most occasions, as Abhishek Sharma is the only other top-order player who bowls part-time left-arm spin that is considered usable in international games.

The challenge for the team management lies in the fact that many of India’s T20 batters are accustomed to hitting aggressively in the IPL, where the Impact Player rule provides a safety net. This approach can be problematic on pitches that offer more to bowlers, where a ‘plan B’ is often needed if an all-out attack strategy does not succeed.

Tough decisions for team management

To include Sooryavanshi while retaining the Samson-Abhishek pair, the team might need to consider sacrificing either Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma. This would ensure the presence of five specialist bowlers, rather than relying on four bowlers and two all-rounders. However, one suggested solution involves dropping Sanju Samson, a move that could be unpopular but is considered logical by some. Samson’s technique was reportedly tested in bowler-friendly conditions, and he appeared out of sync.

If Sooryavanshi is to be introduced without disrupting the bowling attack’s balance, the team’s think-tank would need to engage in discussions with Samson. Such significant decisions often require difficult choices, and someone may have to face disappointment for the broader benefit of the team.

The losses to Ireland have been described as a low point in Indian cricket history, attributed to overconfidence and casualness. Sunil Gavaskar noted that the series presented an ideal chance to give Sooryavanshi international exposure. He hopes that the team will not delay his inclusion and will play him in the initial match against England.

The wickets in England are anticipated to be somewhat flatter, based on their behavior in previous summers.

Source: m.rediff.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter