Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be unleashed: AB de Villiers disagrees with India’s selection process

3 T20Is gone, 5 left. India’s tour of the United Kingdom – two matches against Ireland and five against England – will reach the halfway stage on July 4 in Nottingham. Yet, there could be a possibility that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wouldn’t have played. India’s first frontline opener – Abhishek Sharma – has done exceptionally well.

Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hasn’t made his India debut

But Sanju Samson has scored 6 runs in 3 matches. But the management has kept backing him. India’s assistant coach and captain, Ryan ten Doeschate and Shreyas Iyer, have both backed the current players. Samson and Ishan Kishan have earned extended runs for their performances before and during the T20 World Cup 2026. Therefore, Sooryavanshi must wait for his turn.

“Everyone currently playing in the team has performed well. It’s not just Vaibhav who has delivered performances. We want to provide every player with opportunities and a sense of security. He’s (Vaibhav) a brilliant prodigy, and whenever he gets an opportunity to play, he will perform brilliantly,” Shreyas had said before the Durham T20I on July 1.

ABD against selection decision

There’s a divide on the decision. Some believe Sooryavanshi deserves to play ahead of Samson, who has never been consistent and whose highest point isn’t close to the teenager’s. Others think backing the past performers sets the right precedent and creates the right atmosphere in the dressing room.

Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers falls in the first category. He believes the 15-year-old can’t just sit out after what he did in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. If you score 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, there’s no way you warm the bench.

ABD doesn’t agree with Ryan and Shreyas’ comments. He isn’t like any other player. This kid is a once-in-a-lifetime cricketer. One still understands Sooryavanshi carrying the waters against England, but warming the bench against Ireland, who are the 11th-ranked team after defeating India, just doesn’t make any sense.

“When will he be unleashed? I thought the Ireland series was the perfect opportunity for him to come in and get a feel for international cricket. It was unfortunate that he never got an opportunity. I beg to differ with Ryan ten Doeschate, saying Sooryavanshi has to go through the process like any other player. After the IPL he had, it was time to throw him into the deep end, especially against a lower team like Ireland,” he said on his YouTube channel.

The post Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be unleashed: AB de Villiers disagrees with India’s selection process appeared first on Inside Sport India.