Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could be on the verge of a long-awaited India debut if the latest chatter holds true, with the national team set to tour Ireland for a two-match T20I series in June. Even so, the 15-year-old has already created plenty of buzz by catching the eye with his performances, and fans are eager to see him in the India colours. The key, as the debate goes, is not just selection but timing—giving him access to the highest level at the right stage of his development.
The thinking is that India should be proactive in ensuring a talent of that calibre isn’t missed. Rather than rushing him straight into the playing XI, the approach could be to bring him into the squad, let him travel, and help him absorb the standards required to compete week after week at international level. With India’s depth, there’s also room to build more than one strong group of players for different conditions—so Sooryavanshi’s inclusion feels like a sensible fit.
Quick facts
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is being discussed as a potential India debut candidate during a two-match T20I series in Ireland in June.
- Ian Bishop named an alternate India T20I squad and selected three opening batters: Shubman Gill, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Prabhsimran Singh.
- Bishop said he preferred a left-right opening combination, with Sooryavanshi as the left-hander.
- In Bishop’s middle order, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal were included.
- Dhruv Jurel was picked as wicketkeeper, while Nitish Kumar Reddy was chosen as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
- Bishop’s bowling group featured Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna.
That is also the blueprint Ian Bishop has put forward. The former West Indies quick, while unveiling an alternate India T20I group, placed Sooryavanshi in the batting lineup as one of three openers—alongside Shubman Gill and Punjab Kings batter Prabhsimran Singh. The selection isn’t framed as a one-off gamble; it is presented as a calculated move to reward form and to balance the top order.
Bishop’s selection logic
Bishop explained his thinking on “Quick Singles,” saying he wants three openers in his squad and that he is aiming for a left-right combination wherever possible. He pointed to Gill’s current form as a reason for retaining him, while identifying Sooryavanshi—described as the left-hander—as the counterpart to keep that matchup dynamic. For the third opener, Bishop backed Prabhsimran Singh and noted that Priyansh Arya was also in the mix, but he believes Prabhsimran has been performing better during the current season.
He added that the broader goal is to take the next step with a player who is already showing readiness. In Bishop’s view, Sooryavanshi has the ability to progress further, and bringing him into the higher-performance environment can accelerate that growth. The argument is that exposure at the top level matters just as much as immediate roles on match day.
Shreyas Iyer also earned a spot in Bishop’s middle order. The India captain-of-the-future conversation continues around Iyer despite him still being outside the regular selector radar—an omission Bishop addressed directly through his team-building exercise. Iyer last played a T20I for India in December 2023, and although he delivered major impact in franchise cricket—leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024 and guiding Punjab Kings to a runner-up finish in 2025—he remains, in Bishop’s framing, under-considered for international opportunities.
Bishop, however, made it clear he sees Iyer as a valuable option in the middle overs. Alongside Iyer, he backed Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal, describing Padikkal’s recent form as impressive. For the wicketkeeper role, Bishop chose Dhruv Jurel, arguing that Jurel’s batting and glove work has been in better shape than Jitesh Sharma at present.
In the all-round slot, Bishop selected Nitish Kumar Reddy as the seam-bowling option. He cited Reddy’s ability to contribute with the bat as well as his bowling, describing him as scoring runs and bowling reasonably well at times for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The mix, in Bishop’s view, gives India flexibility—someone who can add depth in overs and still offer control when the ball is moving.
Bowling unit: pace and spin
Bishop’s bowling group combined pace, swing, and spin choices. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya were among the picks, with Yuzvendra Chahal also included as the specialist spinner. Mohsin Khan was another addition that Bishop welcomed, while Prince Yadav and Prasidh Krishna rounded out the pace options that caught his eye.
When it came to spin, Bishop said his shortlist is naturally narrower because it is based on form at this juncture. Even so, he maintained that Krunal Pandya has been an important player, before switching focus to his “genuine spinner” choice. That role, in Bishop’s XI, belongs to Yuzvendra Chahal, framed as the leading wicket-taker in IPL history.
For pace, Bishop highlighted Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s value, pointing out that the fast-bowling inclusion is powered by both skill and current effectiveness. He noted that Bhuvneshwar gets into his squad at 36 because he is bowling “as well as he ever has,” underlining how experience combined with form can still be a decisive advantage in T20 cricket.
