Former India wicketkeeper suggests Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open with Rohit Sharma

By Arjun Nair / 28.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 27 July 2026 — 3 min read

Calls for Batting Order Reshuffle

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer has suggested a change to the team’s batting order, advocating for teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open alongside Rohit Sharma. Engineer believes this move would position Shubman Gill at number four, with Virat Kohli batting at number three, ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Engineer highlighted the potential benefits of a left-right batting combination at the top of the order, stating that Sooryavanshi’s left-handed style would complement Rohit Sharma’s right-handed approach in One Day Internationals (ODIs). He described Gill as a class player and currently the best batter in the team, suggesting his placement at number four would solidify the batting lineup.

The former India star noted that Sooryavanshi’s ability to find gaps in the field makes him well-suited for an opening role. He emphasized that a strong start from an opener like Sooryavanshi could allow other players to consolidate the innings and build a substantial score.

Sooryavanshi’s Recent Performances and Potential

Engineer’s comments follow Sooryavanshi’s impressive performance in a recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. The 15-year-old emerged as the leading run-scorer in the series, accumulating 151 runs, which included two half-centuries. His contributions earned him the Player of the Series award as India secured a 3-0 clean sweep.

Despite a challenging T20I tour of England earlier in the month, Sooryavanshi demonstrated his adaptability during the Zimbabwe series. He scored a rapid half-century in the series opener and followed it with a measured 81 runs off 49 balls in the final T20I on a slower surface in Harare.

Engineer believes these performances are sufficient to fast-track the teenager into India’s 50-over plans. He argued against distinguishing too much between ODI and T20 formats, suggesting that a good performance in one format translates to the other. He also noted that Sooryavanshi’s natural game and confidence to open the innings make him a valuable asset.

While acknowledging areas for improvement, such as handling short-pitched bowling, adapting to overseas conditions, and refining shot selection, Engineer cautioned against over-coaching the youngster. He stressed that Sooryavanshi’s natural talent is what makes him special and urged India to invest in his fearless approach and match-winning ability now, with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching.

Differing Views on Fast-Tracking

However, not all opinions align with the immediate fast-tracking of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into the ODI team. Former cricket administrator Makarand Waingankar has also called for Sooryavanshi to be fast-tracked for the 2027 World Cup, urging the BCCI and team management to allow him sufficient preparation time. Waingankar compared Sooryavanshi to Sanath Jayasuriya, referencing his impact in the 1996 World Cup.

Sooryavanshi’s rise to prominence includes scoring his maiden IPL century for Rajasthan Royals in 2025 and becoming the youngest player to win the Orange Cap in his second IPL season this year. He also played for the India U-19 side, helping them secure the U19 World Cup in 2026. Despite a challenging debut against England during the UK tour, he proved himself in the Zimbabwe series.

Despite the successes, some suggest that the hype around Sooryavanshi should be moderated. Concerns have been raised about overexposing the youngster in international cricket at this stage of his career. One perspective is that Yashasvi Jaiswal should be prioritized for the opening slot in ODIs. The current opening pair of captain Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma has performed well, and Jaiswal is seen as a long-term replacement for Sharma, having delivered quality knocks in the 50-over format, including a century against Afghanistan.

Another point of view is that Sooryavanshi needs to gain more experience in longer formats at the domestic level, such as the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy, before being rushed into international ODI cricket. He has only played seven international matches for India in the T20I format against England and Zimbabwe. The argument is that he should first focus on solidifying his position in T20Is before aiming for a spot in the ODI team.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com