'Vaibhav May Have To Wait...': CSK's IPL Winner's Blunt Take On Sooryavanshi's Chances Of Debut For England Series Goes Viral

India Test great Cheteshwar Pujara has urged teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to stay focused and not get carried away by the growing attention around him as he waits for a possible chance in India’s upcoming T20I series against England.

Pujara's advice to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Speaking ahead of the tour, Pujara who was part of CSK during their 2021 IPL triumph, said it may not be easy for the youngster to break into the playing XI straight away because India’s current top order is well settled. He believes patience and proper preparation will be important for Sooryavanshi’s long-term success.

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Pujara first advised the young batter to ignore the hype and keep his full attention on improving his game.

“There is a lot of hype around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. As a young player, he shouldn’t pay attention to what is being said about him. He needs to block out the outside noise and focus on his game,” Pujara told JioStar.

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi  make debut in England series?

He also pointed out that being mentally ready is only one part of the journey, as team selection depends on the balance of the side.

“But even if he is mentally ready, selection is a different matter. I don’t think he will get a chance straight away in the England series because India wouldn’t want to change their top three. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan are quality batters who have helped India win the T20 World Cup. So, Vaibhav may have to wait for the first three games,” he added.

Pujara said that whenever Sooryavanshi gets his chance, he should keep things simple and play without putting extra pressure on himself.

“If the opportunity arrives, the key for him will be to stay relaxed and calm. He shouldn’t put pressure on himself to score big runs. He should just go out and express himself,” he said.

How featuring in England will be diffrent for Sooryavanshi?

The veteran also reminded the youngster that playing in England will be a completely different challenge compared to the IPL, and adapting to the conditions will be crucial.

“What he did in the IPL won’t be easy to replicate in English conditions. So, he needs to prepare well and get used to the conditions. Once he has done that, it will be about watching the ball and playing it on its merit. Everything else will fall into place,” Pujara stated.

India head into the T20I series against England with a settled batting lineup, which means Sooryavanshi may have to wait patiently before getting his first opportunity at the international level.