Former England spinner Graeme Swann believes England could face a daunting challenge if teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets his long-awaited India debut in the upcoming T20I series, describing the youngster as a batsman who has looked “almost impossible” in recent times. Although Sooryavanshi is yet to feature for India, he has become one of the most talked about names in Indian cricket. After missing out during the T20I series defeat to Ireland, speculation has intensified over whether the 15-year-old will finally get his first international cap against England. India enter the five-match series looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat in Ireland, and the selection debate has grown louder. Many have asked why Sooryavanshi, despite his extraordinary exploits in the IPL, is still waiting for his international debut. Swann admitted that he was preparing for a player like Rajasthan Royals The opener is far from straightforward, saying England’s bowlers have very little evidence that anyone has ever managed to trouble them. “It is difficult to prepare a player like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He is still new to international cricket, but he has already played two IPL seasons. This means that there are video footages available. Some of the English bowlers might have bowled to him in the IPL. But the truth is, no one has really had much success against him so far. While Swann expects England’s attack to face a stern examination, he feels one bowler may be slightly better equipped than others to take on the teenage opener. The former highlighted off-spinner Jofra ArcherSooryavanshi’s association with the Rajasthan Royals, suggesting that the English speedster gained valuable insight by watching and bowling to him during the IPL sessions. “The only bowler who could have a little advantage is Jofra Archer. He saw Sooryavanshi from the dugout, bowled to him in the nets, and watched him closely. He probably saw more of him than anyone,” he added. Sooryavanshi forced his way into the Indian team after a breathtaking IPL 2026 season with the Rajasthan Royals. The left-handed opener finished as the competition’s highest scorer with 776 runs, scoring at a remarkable strike rate of 237.30. His memorable campaign included a century, five half-centuries and a tournament hit of 72 sixes, cementing his reputation as one of India’s brightest young batting talents and earning him his first national call-up. With India looking for a response after the Ireland series, the focus will once again be on the team sheet when the England series begins, as fans wait to see if Sooryavanshi finally gets a chance to make his international debut.
