Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called on fans to be patient regarding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s delayed debut for the national team, emphasizing that the young talent shouldn’t be rushed into international cricket. His comments came after Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI for the first T20I against Ireland, where the team opted for the familiar opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, despite increasing calls for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion. Ashwin, a seasoned former cricketer, pointed out that selections should be based on performance rather than public pressure.
He highlighted that spending time on the sidelines is also a crucial part of a player’s development as he said, “I know Vaibhav has to play. I am also his big fan, and he is an entertainer, but not at any cost. There is value in sitting outside and watching the match. Let him sit outside; let him serve the team; let him serve water. He will get a lot to learn by serving drinks. A great player is not made overnight. It is possible that once Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets playing, he will never be dropped.”
Ashwin mentioned that there’s real value in waiting for the right moment. He believes Sooryavanshi can gain a lot by watching the senior players, soaking in the team culture, and contributing in any way he can, even if that means being the one to carry drinks. He noted that once the young player gets his shot, he might just secure his spot permanently, much like Sachin Tendulkar did after his debut. However, taking time to observe from outside the playing XI can foster empathy and deepen his understanding of the team dynamics.
Shreyas Iyer’s New Era Starts on Sour Note as Ireland Pull Off Historic Upset
In a stunning turn of events, Ireland pulled off one of the biggest wins in their T20I history by defeating India by 34 runs in Belfast. This marked Ireland’s first-ever victory over India in international cricket, making it a tough debut for new captain Shreyas Iyer, who took over from Suryakumar Yadav following India’s successful Men’s T20 World Cup run. After being asked to bat first, Ireland found themselves in a bit of a pickle at 36/3, but captain Lorcan Tucker stepped up with a solid 50, and Gareth Delany added 49, helping them reach a total of 182/9. Harshit Rana was the standout bowler for India, finishing with impressive figures of 3/24, while Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets each. Unfortunately, Washington Sundar and Prasidh Krishna struggled to keep the runs in check, with Prasidh giving away 57 runs in just four overs as Ireland picked up the pace towards the end.
India started their chase with a bang, as Abhishek Sharma smashed a quick-fire half-century off just 20 balls. However, things took a turn for the worse after his wicket fell. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer couldn’t make a significant impact, and Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel were unable to stabilize the innings. Ireland’s debutant Matt Hollard shone brightly with figures of 3/28, while Matthew Humphreys also claimed three wickets despite battling an injury. To top it off, Jai Moondra made a memorable entrance by dismissing Samson with his very first ball in international cricket. In the end, India crumbled to 148 in just 18.5 overs, handing Ireland a historic victory and putting the pressure on the visitors as they head into the second T20I.
