‘For the sake of world cricket’: Ex-England cricketer urges India to play Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Ireland T20Is | Cricket News
Former England spinner Graeme Swann backed teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to feature in India’s T20I series against Ireland, calling him “the box-office man of the moment” and saying his inclusion in India’s squad is good for world cricket.Sooryavanshi, who was named in India’s squads for the upcoming T20I tours of Ireland and England on Saturday, became the youngest player ever selected for an Indian team at 15 years and 71 days. He broke the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut at 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in Karachi on November 15, 1989.Speaking on JioStar, Swann said he wanted to see Sooryavanshi play in the two-match T20I series against Ireland beginning June 26 in Belfast.“I am glad he has been picked, for the sake of world cricket. He is the box-office man of the moment. I think he should play against Ireland. I was not entirely sure how good he was coming into this IPL,” Swann said.“I knew he had talent and he scored a big hundred in the U19 World Cup Final. But I thought world-class bowlers would find him out. There would be too much pace and too much planning against him,” Swann added.Swann said Sooryavanshi handled every challenge during IPL 2026 with confidence.“The 97 he scored in the Eliminator (of IPL), I have rarely seen hitting like that. As he was smashing Pat Cummins all over the ground, I was thinking, ‘This kid is the real deal,” Swann said.“I did not see the point of not involving him, or not bringing him into the senior team, because you have got an absolute world-beater on your hands for the next 20 years,” Swann added.Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up after finishing IPL 2026 as the tournament’s highest run-scorer. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five fifties.The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Saturday announced India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England tours. Shreyas Iyer was named captain, while Tilak Varma was appointed vice-captain.India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav was left out of the squad. Fast bowler Prince Yadav also received his first call-up.
