Shreyas Iyer shuts T20I doors for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: No chance he can walk in

India captain Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunities in the T20I side, with established openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to deliver at the top of the order.

Sooryavanshi, who was picked for India’s tours of England and Ireland earlier this year, has featured in only eight of the 21 T20Is the team has played so far. Despite his reputation as one of India’s most exciting young batting talents, the 15-year-old has found it difficult to secure a regular place in the playing XI, with Abhishek and Samson firmly holding on to their opening slots.

Speaking ahead of India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer stressed that Sooryavanshi’s talent was not in question, but said the teenager could not expect to walk straight into the team while the current openers were performing consistently.

“It’s important that a talent like him (Sooryavanshi) should always be happy around the dressing room,” Iyer said.

“He is very young, he has more years to get opportunities. It’s not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup.”

Abhishek and Samson played important roles in India’s successful defence of the T20 World Cup title earlier this year, strengthening their positions at the top of the order. For Sooryavanshi, that means waiting for an opening in a side where the established pair continue to deliver.

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO VAIBHAV SOORYAVANSHI?

Sooryavanshi did get an opportunity to open the innings at the Asian Games, where Samson moved down to No. 3 to accommodate the teenager. The youngster scored 53 runs across two matches at a strike rate of 176.66, offering a glimpse of his attacking potential.

However, he returned to the bench for the entire T20I series against the West Indies, prompting questions about when he might receive a longer run in the side.

Iyer said he had repeatedly encouraged Sooryavanshi to remain patient and trust his preparation rather than become frustrated by the lack of opportunities.

“I just keep telling him you will get the opportunity, if you be consistent about your processes, you have to wait sometimes, we have got two fantastic openers, that’s the conversation we have been having with Vaibhav,” Iyer said after the fifth T20I against the West Indies was washed out.

The series ended in a 2-2 draw, with Iyer acknowledging that India could have secured a different result had they bowled better in the second and fourth matches. He also praised West Indies captain Shai Hope for his batting throughout the series.

GAMBHIR ASKS VAIBHAV TO BE PATIENT

Iyer’s comments echo the message head coach Gautam Gambhir had delivered when he was asked about Sooryavanshi’s absence from the playing XI during India’s T20I series against Afghanistan.

Gambhir had said that the teenager would have to wait for his opportunity despite the promise he had shown, adding that players who had performed consistently over a longer period would naturally remain ahead in the selection order.

“From Vaibhav’s point of view, it is again a very clear conversation that he has to wait for his opportunity. We know the kind of talent he has. We know what he can do. But again, someone who done extremely well over a period of years obviously will always be ahead of someone who has got into the team. Whenever he gets that chance, you will get a longer run as well,” Gambhir had said.

The India coach also emphasised that competition for places was an important part of international cricket, regardless of a player’s age.

“And that is what Indian cricket is all about. We want competition, we want that talent in the dressing room. But sometimes that’s how cricket goes. Whether it is a 15-year-old or a 30-year-old, you have to wait for opportunity.”

For Sooryavanshi, the immediate challenge is to remain ready for his next chance while continuing to learn from the senior players around him. Iyer also pointed to the value of exposing the youngster to overseas conditions, saying the experience would help him prepare for future assignments.

“So, if you see, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea how to play on these particular wickets,” Iyer said.

“Next time, whenever he comes in these conditions, he will be very well-prepared. And he can also instruct the other team members, whoever comes here for the first time.”

India are now set to travel to New Zealand for the T20I leg of their tour, which begins on October 22. With Abhishek and Samson continuing to occupy the opening positions, Sooryavanshi’s wait for a regular place in the senior side looks set to continue.

– Ends