Sunil Gavaskar urges Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion for ENG vs IND 2026 1st T20I

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has urged India to include in-form Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the first T20I against England. Gavaskar reckons India should either open with him or make him bat at number three.

Sooryavanshi was not given his chance in the two-match T20I series against Ireland, which India lost by 2-0. India lost the series opener at Belfast by 34 runs on Friday and they were also stunned in the second game as they suffered a one-run loss on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi earned his maiden T20I call-up after smashing 776 runs in 16 matches of IPL 2026 while playing for Rajasthan Royals. However, India decided to keep backing the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in the two T20Is.

Sunil Gavaskar said on Sports Tak, “I think he (Vaibhav Suryavanshi) has to be included in the very first match. It’s as simple as that. Keep the batters who are out of form out of the playing XI and play Vaibhav Suryavanshi instead. Absolutely. Either open with him or bat him at No. 3. But one thing is certain, he has to play the first match against England on July 1.

“If India wants to surprise England in the very first match, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has to play. Yes, it’s possible that he could get out cheaply in his first game. That can happen. But if he gets going in the opening match, England will be shaken,” he added.

The former Indian opener suggested that India should drop one of their middle order batters to accommodate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the playing XI.

“The opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma has served India very well over the past year and a half. They have consistently given the team strong starts. So, it wouldn’t be right to drop them after just two matches. But if you want to accommodate Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the XI, I think you should drop one of the middle-order batters who haven’t scored runs and play him at No. 3. I don’t see any problem with that. If you want him at No. 3, then Ishan Kishan can bat at No. 4, Shreyas Iyer can come in at No. 5, and after that you can arrange the rest of the batting order however you like.”

India will next take on England in a five-match T20I series, starting Wednesday.