Vaibhav Suryavanshi in Asia Cup 2025? Ajit Agarkar ponders the decision

Kris Srikkanth backs Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Kris Srikkanth has requested Ajit Agarkar to make a ‘bold call’ and pick Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the Asia Cup squad. While many would believe that picking the youngster would be an injustice to those ahead of him in the race for a spot, there is a case to be made to pick the 14-year-old, given that he is in the form of his life.

Playing in the Asia Cup could be a great opportunity for younger players as they take the next step in their careers. For someone like Suryavanshi, playing against Asian teams could be the bridge between the IPL and international cricket against the best international teams. 

During a video on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth talked about how the Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, should not wait to let Suryavanshi mature. “You have to play boldly. Don’t make him wait. Don’t say things like let him mature. He is already playing with remarkable maturity. His shot-making has been on another level. If I were chairman, I would definitely have him in the 16," Srikkanth said. 

There is a high chance that even with a debutant like Suryavanshi at the top of the order, this Indian team will be pretty hard to beat for the other nations. The quality and depth of Indian cricket, especially in the shortest format, is second to none. 

Plenty of options at the top of the order

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi are six options that the Indian team would be looking at to fill the two opening spots, as well as a backup. 

Many fans and even experts believe that the number one-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek, has zeroed in on a spot. The options for his partner are up for debate. Among the other five players, it is only Samson who provides a second dimension by playing as a wicketkeeper. Apart from him, Jaiswal, Sudharsan, and Suryavanshi are left-handers, and pairing them up with Abhishek would mean a southpaw opening combination. Gill, after a great IPL season where he scored 650 runs, led India to a 2-2 series draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, scoring more than 750 runs in five tests. The right-handed batter was the vice-captain in the last T20I series India played. He is expected to assume the same role if selected in the squad for the continental tournament. 

In order to fit in more players from the six options, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side could drop Tilak Varma from the playing XI and play three of these openers in the top three, with the skipper taking the number four spot. 

Should Suryavanshi be in the Asia Cup squad?

There is no denying the fact that Vaibhav Suryavanshi is one of the highly talented players around the world. The 14-year-old, in the limited chances he has had at different levels, has showcased that he has a high ceiling and can be the next big thing from India. However, given the plethora of players that the Indian team currently has, one would believe that Suryavanshi should wait for his opportunity, and there might be a chance for him to make it into the senior team in the near future. 

At the same time, the other side of the argument dictates that if Suryavanshi is playing at his best currently, shouldn’t his peak form be used while being in the Indian team? By just being in the squad, even on the sidelines, the left-handed batter from Bihar has an opportunity to learn from the senior players. Sharing the dressing room with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, and even Riyan Parag at the Rajasthan Royals would have helped him. 

With the Indian team, he would have an opportunity to play under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, who is himself one of the best T20 players. Apart from Surya, the squad would consist of Abhishek Sharma, who has a similar batting style to that of Suryavanshi. The Indian players generally have to play under a lot of pressure, getting a taste of it by being in the squad for the Asia Cup might just prepare Suryavanshi for the future. 

Like a net bowler, Suryavanshi could benefit a lot from travelling with the team as a travelling reserve bat. Facing the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Varun Vhakravarthy consistently in the nets could increase his quality as a batter.