The anticipated India debut of teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has sparked debate among former players over whether the team is delaying his entry. Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has supported the young batsman and differed from assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate. Ten Doeschate noted that Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket but stressed the need to back Sanju Samson, who contributed to the recent World Cup win, and to maintain consistency after a solid IPL. De Villiers argued that the Ireland series offered an ideal chance for the player to gain experience against a lower-ranked side and that he should have been given an opportunity sooner. Samson’s recent poor form has increased calls for Sooryavanshi. Other former players such as Ravi Shastri, Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook have also suggested an earlier debut. In contrast, Cheteshwar Pujara and Saba Karim believe selection should not sideline established performers. India, after losing 2-0 to Afghanistan, continue their England tour seeking improvement.
