India T20 captain Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his chances in the playing XI, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson currently doing well as openers.
Sooryavanshi has impressed with his performances, but the team management is unlikely to rush him into the side while the regular openers continue to deliver. Iyer believes Sooryavanshi has plenty of time to establish himself in international cricket and will get more opportunities in the future.
Speaking ahead of India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer also stressed the importance of keeping the youngster comfortable in the dressing room.
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Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Is Not Getting Regular Chances
Sooryavanshi was selected for India’s tours of England and Ireland earlier this year. However, he has featured in only eight of the 21 T20Is India have played since then.
Abhishek and Samson have continued to hold their places at the top of the order with consistent performances. Both batters also played important roles in India’s successful defence of their T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
With the established opening pair performing well, Sooryavanshi faces competition for a place in the playing XI despite his growing reputation.
At the Asian Games, Samson moved down to No. 3 to allow the youngster to open the innings. The move gave Sooryavanshi an opportunity to bat at his preferred position while allowing the team to accommodate both players.
Shreyas Iyer Explains How New Zealand Tour Can Help Sooryavanshi
Although Sooryavanshi is not guaranteed a regular place in the side, Iyer believes the experience of playing overseas will benefit the youngster in the long run.
Different conditions and pitches can help him understand how to adjust his batting approach. That experience could prove valuable when he gets more opportunities in the future.
The India captain’s comments suggest that the team is looking at Sooryavanshi’s development with the future in mind rather than rushing him into the playing XI.
India Begin New Zealand Tour After Busy Schedule
India have arrived in New Zealand after a demanding run of cricket that included home series against Afghanistan and the West Indies, along with their participation in the Asian Games.
The five-match T20I series will give the team another opportunity to assess its options and manage its players ahead of upcoming international assignments.
For Sooryavanshi, the immediate challenge will be to make the most of whatever opportunities come his way while learning from the experienced players around him. With Iyer backing his long-term prospects, the youngster will be looking to strengthen his case for a regular place in India’s T20I side.
India's T20I squad against New Zealand
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.