Shreyas Iyer faces the media, explains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi snub after poor UK tour
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer defended the decision to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I against England as he faced the media following India’s disastrous UK tour, saying the team management wanted to test a different opening combination after the series had already been lost.
The press conference came at the end of a bruising campaign for India, who were swept 4-0 in the T20I series after being comprehensively outplayed by England. The defeat not only ended India’s 1,601-day reign at the top of the ICC T20I rankings but also intensified scrutiny on Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management over a series of selection calls and tactical decisions.
One of those decisions in the 5th T20I was the omission of Sooryavanshi for the final T20I after the teenager had featured in the previous three matches. India instead recalled Sanju Samson for the dead rubber, a move that drew criticism given the series was already beyond them.
ENG vs IND 5th T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
DIFFERENT COMBINATION
Asked about the decision, Iyer said the management wanted to field a right-hander alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order.
“As I mentioned, we wanted to try the combination that we felt would be best suited to these conditions. We also wanted a right-hander to open with Abhishek, and that was one of the major reasons.
“As you saw, I was the only right-hander among the left-handers. We wanted to try a different combination that would suit this particular game. Sanju is a quality batsman, and he has won us many series in the past.”
While the explanation highlighted the faith India continue to have in Samson, it is unlikely to end the debate surrounding Sooryavanshi’s handling. After persisting with the youngster through the previous three games, the management changed course in a dead rubber, adding to perceptions of inconsistency during a tour in which India repeatedly shuffled combinations without finding a winning formula.
CAPTAINCY TEST
Iyer also insisted the disappointing tour would help him become a better captain despite suffering his first major setback since taking charge of the T20I side.
“It’s not hard, honestly. Captaining India is a privilege. Every player dreams of leading the Indian team.”
The skipper said criticism following the whitewash would not alter his approach as India prepare for more overseas assignments.
“Taking over the captaincy comes with responsibility, but I love pressure and see it as a privilege. These moments will help me grow and make me a better captain going forward.
“I’m not thinking too much about what people will say about this series because good and bad phases are part and parcel of the game. Going forward, I need to stay positive and focus on nurturing the players around me. We know we have tours to Australia and other overseas series coming up. Building the right camaraderie and adapting to those conditions will be our goal, and that’s the plan going forward.”
For Iyer, the press conference was less about one selection decision than answering for a tour that raised uncomfortable questions over India’s planning, selection strategy and ability to adapt in overseas conditions. The Sooryavanshi-Samson call was simply the first of many that came under the spotlight after a forgettable campaign.
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