Sarandeep Singh, former India spinner and national selector, has advised India head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Shreyas Iyer that this is the best time to test young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and they shouldn’t miss the chance by benching him.

Sooryavanshi was primed to make his India debut in the Ireland series, but warmed the bench in the Men in Blue’s 0-2 whitewash at the hands of the Irish team. Now there are hopes of Sooryavanshi making his debut in the five-T20I series against England.

"He should have played (against Ireland). The team management has to see how it should place him in the playing eleven. Sometimes tough calls have to be made. Give some senior players rest, and he might get his opportunity. If you are building the team for the future, then a rotation policy must come into play. Then you have to sit some players out and give them an opportunity," Sarandeep told PTI.

Sooryavanshi came into the Indian team contention on the back of an excellent IPL 2026, where he scored 776 runs with one century and five T20Is. He also hit a sublime 94 in 29 balls in the final of the A-nation tri-series in Sri Lanka.

"This is the time to test him; don't leave him out. If there is an opportunity, just play him in the XI. The form which he is in right now, this is the right time to start playing with him as soon as possible. The way he is batting, he can win matches on your own. He is very young; he can also learn red-ball skills. He is also playing for Bihar in the Ranji Trophy. He has the talent to play all 3 formats," Sarandeep Singh noted.

(PTI inputs)