India’s Training Faces Minor Hiccup Ahead of 1st T20I, But Gambhir’s Chat With Sooryavanshi Becomes Belfast Talking Point

India’s final training session ahead of the T20I series against Ireland faced a brief disruption on Thursday after the team management raised concerns over practice facilities in Belfast. However, once the issue was resolved, attention quickly shifted to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who could make his international debut on Friday and become the youngest player to represent India.

According to a PTI report, India’s support staff flagged an issue with one of the practice pitches, which did not have a sightscreen positioned behind the bowler’s arm. The absence of the screen reportedly made it difficult for batters to track the ball against the background.

“Yes, there have been some issues with practice facilities, but the Indian team’s support staff have brought this to the notice of Irish officials,” a BCCI source said.

The matter was quickly resolved after India’s operations manager spoke with the hosts. Cricket Ireland made the required arrangements, allowing the team’s practice session to continue smoothly.

Sooryavanshi grabs attention in Belfast

After the logistical issue was sorted, the focus turned to the youngest member of India’s squad — Sooryavanshi, whose rapid rise has made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the world.

The teenager earned a place in the national setup after a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, prompting selectors to fast-track him into India’s T20 plans.

In Belfast, where cricket does not always dominate the sporting conversation, India’s training session attracted unusual attention. Local reporters and members of the Indian diaspora gathered mainly to watch one player — Sooryavanshi.

Gambhir’s interaction fuels debut buzz

The biggest talking point came after Sooryavanshi completed his first net session with the senior team. His brief conversation with head coach Gautam Gambhir increased speculation about a possible debut.

According to a report by RevSportz, Sooryavanshi spent around 45 minutes batting after beginning with stretching exercises. He first faced fast bowlers, including Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, before taking on spinners Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

After the session ended, Sooryavanshi was seen speaking with Gambhir, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also joining the discussion.

With excitement building around India’s playing XI, all eyes will now be on Belfast to see whether Sooryavanshi gets the opportunity to make history in Friday’s T20I opener.