Bollywood actor and cricket enthusiast Riteish Deshmukh called for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s immediate T20I debut as India suffered a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland in Belfast this weekend, with the prodigy having sat out both matches despite being named in the squad.
Ireland scripted history at the Civil Service Cricket Club, Stormont, winning both matches, by 34 runs on Friday, June 26 and by one run on Sunday, June 28. India’s first defeat came after Ireland, having recovered from 51 for four, posted 182 for nine. The results gave Ireland their first-ever series win against India in international cricket, ending India’s run of 16 consecutive bilateral T20I series victories. India’s new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer could not get a win in either match as the world champions fell short on both occasions.
“Make Vaibhav Suryavanshi play already!!!! What are we waiting for???? Riteish Deshmukh wrote on X.
Check the post below
Make Vaibhav Suryavanshi play already!!!!
What are we waiting for ?????— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) June 28, 2026
Why was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi kept out of India’s playing XI?
The 15-year-old left-hander from Bihar earned his first senior India call-up following a record-breaking IPL 2026 season. He topped the run charts with 776 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 237.30, striking a season-record 72 sixes in the process.
The Bihar-born opener was the Player of the Tournament at the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup, hitting 175 off 80 balls in the final against England. He then scored 94 off 29 balls for India A in the Sri Lanka Tri-Nation Series final at Dambulla in June, reaching his half-century in just 11 balls. A debut for India would see him become the youngest male cricketer to represent the country, surpassing a record Sachin Tendulkar has held for over three decades.
What’s next for India?
India now travel to England for a five-match T20I series beginning Wednesday, July 1 at Chester-le-Street. Further games follow at Manchester on Saturday, July 4, Nottingham on Tuesday, July 7, Bristol on Thursday, July 9, and Southampton on Saturday, July 11. Three ODIs begin from Tuesday, July 14, to close out the tour.
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