'I would still not play him' - Aakash Chopra's strong claim about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's potential India debut in 2nd T20I

Former opening batter Aakash Chopra stated that he would not pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for India's second T20I game against Ireland on Sunday, June 28. This comes after the Men in Blue suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the hosts in Belfast on Friday, June 26.

India had a torrid time with the bat, getting bundled out for 148 and thus falling 34 runs short of the target. The likes of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and captain Shreyas Iyer all had a disappointing time with the bat, which could open the door for Sooryavanshi to make his long-awaited India debut. 

Chopra, however, thinks the opposite. The former player-turned-expert still wants Samson and Kishan to keep their place in the team, along with Abhishek Sharma, who scored 49 off 20 balls in the first game. Despite not having Sooryavanshi in their XI, India still can score upwards of 250, something they have shown time and time again. 

"The big question will be whether Vaibhav should be played in the next match. It's a tough one. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson didn't score runs. No one except Abhishek Sharma scored runs. There is a clamour. It might be politically incorrect, but I would still not play him. I will still not drop Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan. I will field the same top three and expect a different outcome, and it's par for the course. We might score 250 if we get to bat first next time. We will bat like that because we are capable of doing that," Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Sooryavanshi has been named in the senior India squad for the first time in his professional career. The 15-year-old will also be part of the side that will play a five-match T20I series against two-time world champions England after they tour Ireland. 

The Men in Blue have more things to worry about than handing a cap to the left-handed batter when they take the field against Ireland on Sunday. They will desperately want a win to level the series and avoid a whitewash.