Ashwin recommends Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be patient for much-awaited India debut: 'There's no place right now'

Former India cricketer R Ashwin urged teen batting phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be patient over his international debut. The 15-year-old southpaw opener is expected to become the youngest debutant for the Indian cricket team, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's longstanding record.

Vaibhav was left on the bench after missing out on Team India’s playing 11 for the opening T20 match against Ireland on Friday, where the Men in Blue suffered a 34‑run defeat to Lorcan Tucker’s spirited side in Belfast.

Ashwin wants Vaibhav to have patience

Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin urged the team selection committee to send Vaibhav for the Zimbabwe tour to make his debut in Harare.

He further explained that Vaibhav deserves a place on merit, but not at the expense of the current openers. Instead, his inclusion should only take place in case of an opener's dip in form or as an injury replacement.

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“There is no place for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi right now. If he has to play, then selectors should send him to the Zimbabwe tour, where these incumbent openers will not be there. But it seems difficult. Sanju Samson is not in the Test or ODI teams, and the same goes for Abhishek Sharma. Earlier, one player used to play in all three formats.

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"This is the ODI cricket World Cup preparation year, and if the T20 cricketers do not get a chance, then where will they play. So it’s not fair. Whatever happened, it was right. On merit, Vaibhav Sooryvanshi demands a place. But then not at the cost of the incumbent openers. Purely, if you have to make a place for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, it should come in case of loss of form or an injury replacement," Ashwin said.

Ashwin: 'There should not be superstar culture'

Ashwin went on to admit that Vaibhav is indeed talented, but individual selections could not be made at the expense of others, as cricket is a team sport. He also reiterated Gautam Gambhir's stance, warning against superstar culture and that players such as Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson have done nothing wrong to be dropped just to accommodate the 15-year-old.

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"I have told many times how good a player Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is. But we have to understand that it’s a team game. Nobody makes a team for an individual. Gautam Gambhir has said that it should be team first, and there should not be a superstar culture. I agree that superstars are great for the game, and it’s easier to sell it because of them. But what mistake have Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson made so that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can play by keeping one of them out?" the former spinner added.

Whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will make his India debut in the series‑deciding T20 against Ireland in Belfast on Sunday remains uncertain.