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Former India cricketer Laxman Shivaramakrishnan backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his brief 14-run innings in his debut match for the India National Cricket Team.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest cricketer in men’s international cricket to represent Team India, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record, who announced his arrival in international cricket at the age of 16. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his Team India debut at 15.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi got only 14 in his debut match for India
Expectations were high on Vaibhav after all the carnage he made in the IPL 2026 and during his recent outings with the India A cricket team in Sri Lanka. As he was dismissed for only 14, facing 10 balls, the celebrated debut ended in disappointment.
Sooryavanshi joined the playing eleven in place of Sanju Samson, who has been dealing with poor form again. Should the Indian team management keep trusting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? The question has arisen after his short-lived innings against England in Manchester.
Laxman Shivaramakrishnan asks for support from Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer
Laxman Shivaramakrishnan asks the Indian team management to keep supporting the young sensation throughout the ongoing India vs England T20I series and beyond, as the opener could serve the team for a couple of decades. With the support from the head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer, the emerging batter can flourish for the Men in Blue.
“Once you decide to play him, you have got to give him ample opportunities. Remember, he is an investment for the next 20 years. I think what Vaibhav needs now is a lot of support from Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer and the rest of the players. Even if he does not do well in a few games, he should be backed,” Laxman Shivaramakrishnan said via Sportstar.
Taking a step further, the former cricketer mentioned that for batting, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi does not need the fitness levels like the bowlers. Based on only one innings, he finds it pointless to rest the Bihar-born.
“He (Sooryavanshi) should be given a fair amount of chances with white ball cricket and see how he performs. In the meantime, there’s no point in blooding a youngster and giving him a break or resting him. He doesn’t need rest."
"He can keep playing right throughout the year. Especially as a batter, he doesn’t need a bowler’s fitness. And batting for long periods of time will also give him that concentration, the mental work that he can do for long periods of time,” he added.
Should Team India consider Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the 2027 ODI World Cup?
As the Indian team management is preparing for the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2027, Sooryavanshi is now a serious contender to sneak into the final squad for the showcase tournament in the eyes of the 60-year-old. Laxman Shivaramakrishnan stated that if the batter does well in the T20Is, then he should deserve to play in the 50-over World Cup.
“He sure should get a chance at the upcoming 50-over World Cup if he does exceedingly well in the T20 format. He should get an opportunity because he’s going to be a match-winner. When he scores runs, he’s going to be a match-winner in all formats of white-ball cricket,” Shivaramakrishnan opined.
