‘Arey wo khelna chahiye tha yaar’: Ravi Shastri slams Gautam Gambhir, Shreyas Iyer for not debuting Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Ireland T20Is

India's legendary all-rounder and former head coach Ravi Shastri has criticised current head coach Gautam Gambhir, captain Shreyas Iyer for not handing debut cap to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the T20I series against Ireland. Shastri feels that the conditions in Ireland, the pitch and the dimensions, should've suited Sooryavanshi. He pointed how the young opener didn't spare anyone in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he won the orange cap and several other awards. The 64-year-old wonders whether the prodigy will continue to be on the bench or get a chance in England.

“Arey wo khelna chahiye tha yaar. Ireland main hi khilana chahiye tha. (He should’ve player in the Ireland T20I series) It was such a slow and spongy track and a small ground. He would've hit it on the roof. I don't know whether they will give him a chance here or not. They should play him as soon as possible. He has beaten everyone in the IPL. He hasn't spared any fast bowler and you're making him warm the benches,” Shastri said on Sony Sports.

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Shastri labelled Sooryavanshi as the X-factor as he has the exuberance of youth and no baggage. He lauded the young batter for his fearless approach and backs him to change the match in the first few overs itself, helping middle order with a platform to build the innings upon.

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Samson struggles, Abhishek stamps authority

While the calls to hand Sooryavanshi his T20I cap have grown louder, Sanju Samson is going through a rough patch. In the T20I series opener against England, Samson departed after scoring just one run. He was caught at point by Tom Banton off Saqib Mahmood’s bowling. Samson, who scored three consecutive fifties in the T20 World Cup including semifinal and final, has scored just six runs in last three T20I innings. Samson's opening partner Abhishek has found form. He scored 49 runs against Ireland and then scored a 24-ball 59 against England.

Rain plays spoilsport in IND vs ENG 1st T20I

After Samson's dismissal, Ishan Kishan got run out for a two-ball duck. Abhishek and skipper Iyer shared an 82-run partnership for the third wicket. After Abhishek departed, Iyer went on to score 68 runs from 47 balls, his first T20I fifty as captain. Later, Shivam Dube's unbeaten 21-ball 42 took India to 189/7. While it drizzled during India's innings, rain got heavier during the innings break and England's run chase couldn't begin.

It will be interesting to see if Sooryavanshi makes his T20I debut on July 4 at The Old Trafford, Manchester.