Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play tonight in the second ENG vs IND T20I?
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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warmed the bench in two games against Ireland and one against England.
The five-match T20I series between India and England is finally set to get going after rain spoiled the opener in Durham. India posted 189/7, after having a tough start of 6/2, thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer before rain forced the match to be abandoned.
With the first T20I match ending without a result, both teams head into the second T20I in Manchester knowing that a win could help them to get the early momentum in the series. India are also looking to bounce back after the disappointing 2-0 defeat against Ireland before arriving in England.
While the focus will once again be on the players like Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, one name continues to dominate even without playing a match. The Youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains the biggest talking point ahead of the second T20I.
The 15-year-old has impressed throughout the last few months with his performances in domestic cricket, India A and IPL 2026. However, Sooryavanshi is still waiting for his first senior India cap despite being part of the squad on the Ireland and England tour.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi make his debut in second ENG vs IND T20I?
After Sanju Samson’s poor outing and inconsistent form, calls for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut have only grown louder. Sanju has managed just 5, 0 and 1 in his last three T20I innings, which raised concern and started debate for the change at the top of the order.
Ahead of the second T20I, Vaibhav’s Instagram story quickly went viral, and people started believing that the 15-year-old was finally set to receive his maiden India cap in Manchester. He posted a picture of him in Indian jersey and wrote “New chapter” as a caption.
However, no official confirmation has been made by the Indian team management, and the hints taken from the Instagram story have not been backed by reports from the team camp.
Multiple reports from Manchester suggest that Sooryavanshi may have to wait a little longer. Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel almost ruled out any immediate action during the pre-match press conference.
Morkel said the coaching staff wants to continue backing Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, reminding everyone that Abhishek is one of the best T20 batters while Samson played a major role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play the second T20I against England?
India has not confirmed their playing XI, but Morne Morkel’s comments suggest the team is likely to continue backing the current top order.
When is the second T20I between India and England?
The second T20I will be played on July 04, 2026, at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.
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Amit Patel is a passionate sports enthusiast and a devoted Virat Kohli admirer who proudly supports Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Having been involved in sports from a young age, he has played chess at the district level and represented his college in various competitions. Amit closely follows Indian cricket, with a special interest in tracking young talents and rising stars making their mark at the highest level. Alongside his love for the game, he is an experienced sports content writer who enjoys crafting stories that connect with fans.