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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces a wait for regular opportunities as India weigh their opening combination. (Img: X)
New Delhi: India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has indicated that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have to wait for a regular place in the playing XI, with established openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to deliver consistent performances. Ahead of India's five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer stressed that the youngster's talent notwithstanding, selection would depend on the team's existing combination and the performances of players already occupying the opening slots.
Sooryavanshi, 15, has attracted considerable attention for his explosive batting and impressive rise through the ranks. However, Iyer made it clear that the teenager should remain patient and make the most of the experience he gains while travelling with the national squad.
Speaking ahead of the opening T20I, Iyer said Sooryavanshi had considerable time ahead of him to establish himself in international cricket. With Sharma and Samson scoring consistently and having played crucial roles in India's successful T20 World Cup campaign, the team management is inclined to retain the opening combination.
Iyer also underlined the importance of ensuring that a young player remains comfortable within the dressing room, rather than becoming disheartened by limited opportunities. The captain's remarks suggest that India are keen to manage the teenager's development without disrupting a settled batting order.
Although Sooryavanshi's immediate prospects of featuring in the playing XI remain uncertain, Iyer believes the New Zealand tour can provide valuable exposure to unfamiliar playing conditions. The captain said that experience of playing on overseas pitches would help the youngster understand how to adapt his batting to different surfaces.
Such exposure could prove useful on subsequent tours, allowing him to return better prepared and potentially share his knowledge with teammates encountering those conditions for the first time. India's tour of New Zealand begins with five T20Is, followed by five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches, giving the squad an extended opportunity to adapt to the country's conditions.
Since earning his India call-up for the tours of England and Ireland earlier this year, Sooryavanshi has featured in eight of India's 21 T20Is. His opportunities have been limited by the consistent performances of Sharma and Samson at the top of the order.
The young left-hander has nevertheless made a strong impression with his aggressive approach. In eight T20I appearances, he has accumulated 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries.
His reputation grew further through his performances in the Indian Premier League, where his powerful strokeplay brought him widespread recognition. He also featured prominently in India's Asian Games campaign, with Samson moving to No. 3 to accommodate him as an opener.
For now, the message from Iyer is one of patience: Sooryavanshi remains a promising prospect, but his inclusion in the playing XI will depend on the team's requirements and the form of the established opening pair.
