India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have made his international debut less than a month ago, but the 15-year-old has already become a hot topic in discussions surrounding India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The explosive left-hander has enjoyed a dream start to his T20I career, scoring 193 runs in six innings at a remarkable strike rate of 189.21, prompting former India wicketkeeper-batter Farokh Engineer to back him as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner in the marquee tournament.
While Shubman Gill currently opens the batting alongside Rohit Sharma in the ODI format, Engineer believes India should rethink their batting order to maximize the team’s balance and firepower. Speaking to PTI, the former cricketer suggested that Gill’s technical excellence makes him better suited to the No. 4 position, allowing Sooryavanshi to provide explosive starts at the top of the order.
“The ideal situation is Rohit Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening the batting. Gill is a class player and, in my opinion, the best batter in the Indian team right now. He can strengthen the middle order by batting at No. 4,” Farokh Engineer said.
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Engineer explained that Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting style and ability to consistently clear the infield during the powerplay make him an ideal opening partner for Rohit. He also highlighted the advantage of having a left-right combination at the top, which could make life difficult for opposition bowlers while giving India’s middle order more time to build substantial totals.
He further suggested that Virat Kohli should continue batting at No. 3, followed by Gill at No. 4, creating what he described as a well-balanced and formidable batting lineup capable of dominating world cricket.
“He’ll win more matches than he’ll lose. When he gives India an explosive start, the middle order gets enough time to settle before accelerating later in the innings,” Farokh Engineer added.
Although Sooryavanshi is yet to make his ODI debut, his List A numbers indicate that he is well-equipped for the 50-over format. The young opener has scored 564 runs in 13 List A matches at an impressive average of 43.38 and an extraordinary strike rate of 176.80.
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Engineer also questioned the perception that excelling in T20 cricket does not automatically translate to success in ODIs. He believes Sooryavanshi’s confidence, shot-making ability and current form make this the ideal time to introduce him to India’s ODI setup. With the 2027 World Cup approaching, the youngster’s rapid rise has undoubtedly strengthened his case as one of India’s most exciting prospects for the future.
