
Ravi Shastri(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Ravi Shastri believes that India missed a trick by not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the slow tracks in Ireland. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that he would have smashed the Ireland bowlers in the two-match series, which India eventually lost 0-2.
The former India head coach, however, isn’t sure whether the 15-year-old will get to make his debut in England. Shastri said that there is no point keeping the in-form batters on the bench after his staggering heroics in the Indian Premier League earlier this year.
“Arre voh khelna chahiye thha yaar ( He should have played) in Ireland. It was a slow track with spongy bounce there. He would have given it a hammering there. So he should have played there. But here in England, I am not sure whether they will play him or not. However, he should play as soon as possible. He smashed everyone in the IPL. Which fast bowler did he spare? And here you are making him warm the bench,” Shastri said on the Sony Sports Network.
Sooryavanshi couldn’t break into the playing XI for the first T20I against England on Wednesday, July 1, at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street. However, after Sanju Samson’s hat-trick of low scores against Ireland and now in England, Sooryavanshi could finally earn his maiden cap in the second T20I, which will be played at the Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday, July 4.
“He is an X-factor and carries no baggage” – Ravi Shastri on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Shastri mentioned that Sooryavanshi carries no baggage being a teenager and can get the team off to fantastic starts even if he bats for only a few overs, and this would allow the middle-order a chance to capitalise.
“He is an X-factor and carries no baggage, being a 15-year-old. He has no fear because of the exuberance of youth. Even if he bats 2 to 3 overs at the top, he will provide you such a great start that the middle-order can capitalize on. So you have find a place in the 11 for him and the earlier, the better,” said Shastri (via the aforementioned source).
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