Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has said that if Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has to play in the Indian T20I team, he needs to be sent on a tour of Zimbabwe, where the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson won’t feature; otherwise, there is no place in the XI for the teenager.
Sooryavanshi is on the verge of history as he eyes Shafali Verma and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the youngest cricketer to debut for India. But he had to settle for a place on the bench in the opening T20I against Ireland, with the team management retaining the T20 World Cup-winning opening pair of Abhishek and Samson.
Samson couldn’t make an impact in the opening T20I in Belfast, prompting multiple experts and fans to call for Sooryavanshi’s debut in the second game at the same venue on Sunday, June 28.
But Ashwin believes India should continue backing the T20 World Cup-winning opening pair of Abhishek and Samson.
“There is no place for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi right now. If he has to play, then selectors should send him to the Zimbabwe tour, where these incumbent openers will not be there,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.
“But it seems difficult. Sanju Samson isn’t in the Test or ODI teams and the same goes for Abhishek Sharma. Earlier, one player used to play in all three formats. This is the ODI cricket World Cup preparation year and if the T20 cricketers don’t get a chance, then where will they play?” Ashwin questioned.
“So it isn’t fair. Whatever happened, it was right. On merit, Vaibhav Sooryvanshi demands a place. But then not at the cost of the incumbent openers. Purely, if you have to make a place for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, it should come in case of loss of form or an injury replacement,” Ashwin added.
