Teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been handed his first India men’s T20I call-up as selectors named squads for tours of Ireland and England and for the Asian Games, while Shreyas Iyer was appointed India’s new T20I captain and Suryakumar Yadav was left out of all three squads. The selections, announced on June 6 in Mumbai by chief selector Ajit Agarkar, set up two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and 28, five matches in England from July 1 to 11, and India’s participation in the men’s T20 event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September.
Agarkar said the move to appoint Shreyas followed deliberations about the future plan after the World Cup. “Shreyas was quite close to getting into that T20 World Cup squad. It was a tough call on Suryakumar Yadav, but you need to reassess your plan moving forward. Shreyas is a well‑deserving captain,” he said, adding that Shreyas’s recent form made the decision easier.
Selectors noted Suryakumar’s key role in March’s successful T20 World Cup defence but pointed to a prolonged lean patch. The 35‑year‑old scored just 270 runs in 13 innings for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 at an average of 20.76, and his World Cup return of 242 runs at a strike rate of 136.72 was described as modest. With the next T20 World Cup scheduled for 2028, the selection panel opted for a fresh leadership cycle with Shreyas as captain and Tilak Varma as vice‑captain.
Shreyas, 31, returns to the T20I fold after his last appearance in December 2023; he was part of the squad against New Zealand earlier this year but did not feature in the playing XI. He is expected to slot in at number four, the position previously occupied by Suryakumar. On the vice‑captain choice, Agarkar said: “Tilak is a terrific player, and it gives him an opportunity to learn on the job,” while explaining shifts in the leadership structure that saw previous standbys such as Shubman Gill and Axar Patel move aside for the new two‑year cycle.
Sooryavanshi’s inclusion is a headline grabber after his starring role in India’s U19 World Cup triumph, where he was Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament. The Rajasthan Royals batter amassed 776 runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 237.30 and becomes the youngest player picked in an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar in 1989. He will first turn out for India A in the tri‑series in Sri Lanka from June 9 to 21 before joining the senior tours.
On Sooryavanshi, Agarkar said: “Vaibhav’s performances — he almost forced us to pick him. I know he’s young, but two IPLs in a row, and we also know what he did at the Under‑19 level. He has picked himself through his own performances.” The panel also welcomed back seam‑bowling all‑rounder Harshit Rana, who is recovering from meniscus surgery in March, and confirmed leg‑spinner Ravi Bishnoi’s return. Fast bowler Prince Yadav, after a strong IPL 2026, is included for the Ireland and England tours, while Jasprit Bumrah will replace him in the Asian Games squad.
India’s squad for T20Is against Ireland and England is: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice‑captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav. India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan is: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma (vice‑captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. — IANS
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/sports/teenage-sensation-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-named-in-indias-t20i-and-asian-games-1612444
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Publish Date: 2026-06-06 15:15:00
