Sunil Gavaskar Advocates for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Inclusion in England Tour
Gavaskar's Praise for Young Talent
Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his belief that the young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a "gift from God to Indian cricket" and should be included in the squad for the upcoming white-ball series in England, even if it means sidelining a seasoned top-order batsman.
Having witnessed Sooryavanshi's remarkable innings of 97 runs off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL Eliminator, Gavaskar is impressed by the young player's audacious batting style, particularly his ability to hit a straight six off Pat Cummins.
"The year 2026 will be remembered as the year of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He is ready to step into T20 International cricket," Gavaskar stated during a discussion on a YouTube show, Sports Tak.
"For the T20 series in England, he deserves a spot in the team after such an outstanding performance. If we don’t give him a chance now, when will we?"
The former Indian captain emphasized that age should not be a barrier, as Sooryavanshi is successfully facing bowlers much older than him at just 15 years old.
"Don’t let his age fool you. He is hitting bowlers with 15 years of international experience. His fearless approach is commendable," Gavaskar remarked.
However, to make room for Sooryavanshi in the lineup, the selectors would need to consider dropping either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson.
"It will be a tough decision on who to leave out, but it's a positive dilemma to have. When the challenge is about whom to drop, it reflects the depth of talent in our country," he added.
"I believe Sooryavanshi will be included in the squad of 15 or 16, but whether he makes it to the playing eleven can be decided later. The experience he will gain in the dressing room will be invaluable," Gavaskar continued.
For Gavaskar, a player who can hit straight sixes is far from being a mere slogger.
"What we witnessed yesterday, along with some of his previous performances, was exceptional. He is not just special; he is extraordinarily special," Gavaskar noted.
"When we think of six hitters, we often picture sloggers. But this young man hits straight sixes with technical precision over long on and long off," he explained.
"When bowlers deliver short balls, he skillfully hooks and pulls them, which is a rare talent. Not just me, but everyone except the SRH players felt disappointed when he fell short of a century at 97 runs. Sooryavanshi is indeed a gift to Indian cricket."
Gavaskar reminisced about seeing Sachin Tendulkar at 15 playing for Mumbai but refrained from making direct comparisons.
"Sachin possessed all the qualities—he could attack, defend, and had every shot in his arsenal. His balance was unique. When I first saw him, I thought he too was a divine gift," he recalled.
"The equipment has changed since Sachin's time; the bats are much more powerful now, allowing players to hit those sixes more easily."
Gavaskar also shared a touching moment when Sooryavanshi approached him before practice and touched his feet.
"Our upbringing instills respect for elders. Not just me, but Sanjay Bangar was also present, and Sooryavanshi touched his feet too. He might have expected me to say something, and I simply told him, 'Lage Raho' (Keep going). So what does Gavaskar hope for this young talent?"
"I hope that the child in him never fades away," he added with a smile.