<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/former-team-india-skipper-mohammad-azharuddin-hails-syed-kirmani-23588997" rel="nofollow">Former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani</a> reckons team management missed an opportunity by leaving teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the Ireland T20Is.
Despite widespread anticipation, Sooryavanshi did not receive his maiden senior India cap during the brief two-match T20I bilateral series in Ireland, which concluded in a<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-ire-2nd-t20i-ireland-skipper-lorcan-tucker-reflects-on-one-run-win-over-team-india-23637361" rel="nofollow"> 0-2 whitewash defeat for the visitors</a>.
Syed Kirmani, the legendary Indian wicketkeeper and 1983 World Cup winner, labelled the choice to bench the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-ire-2nd-t20i-ryan-ten-doeschate-speaks-about-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-potential-debut-23637401" rel="nofollow">teenage sensation Sooryavanshi</a>&nbsp;in Belfast as a mistake and asked the team leadership to give him an opportunity against the English side.
"Indeed, it was a mistake not to play him against Ireland. I was really surprised not to see him in the second T20I after India had lost the first one against Ireland. And we all saw what happened. We should show more resolve in including him in the India XI rather than letting him sit in the dressing room for the entire duration of the match," said Kirmani.
"He is a super talent. He is an entertainer. I see cricket because of him. They are marketing this series around him. See the broadcasters...we see him in trailers but not in the main movie, what is this?" Kirmani added.
<h2>Maninder Singh backs Sooryavanshi to play against England</h2>
Former Indian spinner Maninder Singh also voiced his support for Sooryavanshi's inclusion in the playing XI, arguing that the young batsman possesses the skill set to succeed regardless of his position in the batting lineup.
"You've got to make way for Sooryavanshi. If not in the opening slot, then at No.3, No. 4, you bat him anywhere. He's going to bat the way he knows how to bat. He should have been in the side (against Ireland). We were a little bit wrong in our planning. If you have an attacking batter like Sooryavanshi, you've got to adjust him somewhere," Maninder said.
"Look at his attitude. With that attitude, if you bat him anywhere, he'll win you a game single-handedly. That is where I feel the Indian think-tank has gone wrong. They (selectors and team management) have just considered him as an opener...an explosive batter like him in the side can bat at any number," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)

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Former India star Syed Kirmani has questioned the team management's decision to bench teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi against Ireland


Syed Kirmani slams team management for excluding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from Ireland series

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