Can Sooryavanshi and Rohit open for India in 2027 World Cup?
Farokh Engineer advocates for teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to partner Rohit Sharma at the top in ODIs ahead of the next global tournament.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed in T20Is, leading to calls from former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer for his ODI promotion. Engineer believes the left-hander should open alongside Rohit Sharma, a right-hander, creating a balanced left-right combination. He also suggests moving captain Shubman Gill down to No. 4.
India's current opening pair of Gill and Rohit has been highly successful, especially during the 2023 World Cup. Breaking up this proven partnership for a teenage debutant in ODIs is a risky proposition. Sooryavanshi's T20I success came against Zimbabwe, but ODIs demand different skills and temperament.
While Engineer's reasoning has merit, the Indian management will consider the youngster's readiness for 50-over cricket. The 2027 World Cup is still a few years away, giving Sooryavanshi time to develop. Whether he can cement a spot alongside Rohit remains to be seen.