Sunil Gavaskar has called for the selection of 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for Team India's away T20I series [1].
The demand from a former batting legend highlights a potential shift toward integrating exceptionally young talent into the national squad. If selected, Sooryavanshi would challenge existing records for age at the time of an international debut.
Gavaskar spoke ahead of the T20I series scheduled for June 2024, which features matches in England and against Ireland [1]. The former opener said that the young player's skill set warrants an immediate opportunity on the global stage.
"If you don't give him a chance, you will be missing a great talent," Gavaskar said [1].
Sooryavanshi is currently 15 years old [1]. His inclusion in the playing XI would make him the youngest debutant for India in T20Is [1]. Gavaskar said that denying this opportunity would be a loss for the development of Indian cricket.
"He could become the youngest debutant for India if he gets into the playing XI," Gavaskar said [1].
The call for selection comes as India prepares for the challenges of an away tour, where conditions in England often test the technical proficiency of young batters. Gavaskar said Sooryavanshi possesses the necessary temperament to handle such an environment despite his age.
“"If you don't give him a chance, you will be missing a great talent."”
Gavaskar's public endorsement puts pressure on selectors to weigh the risks of early exposure against the rewards of fast-tracking a prodigy. While debuting a 15-year-old is rare in modern cricket, doing so would signal a strategic move by India to prioritize raw talent over traditional age-based experience in the T20 format.
