Iyer Calls Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Quiet Off Field, Destructive On It

ndia’s T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has praised teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Iyer pointed to the contrast between the left-hander’s calm personality and his aggressive batting.

A Rapid Rise

Sooryavanshi has been in the spotlight since Rajasthan Royals bought him for Rs 1.1 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. He has impressed in the IPL and for India’s Under-19 and ‘A’ teams. In international cricket, he began with scores of 14, 13 and 15 against England, then won Player of the Series in the T20Is against Zimbabwe.

Iyer revealed that he regularly talks to the youngster about life beyond cricket, including his family and interests, since most people only discuss the game with him. The captain believes such conversations help Sooryavanshi be himself. He described the teenager as a very silent person who turns destructive on the field, calling that an irony. Iyer also called him a charming, sweet presence in the dressing room.

Waiting for His Turn

Iyer made it clear that Sooryavanshi’s current spot behind the established openers does not signal a lack of faith. With World Cup-winning openers in the side, he said, they deserve their time in the middle. Sooryavanshi remains in the squad of 15, and Iyer is confident that when his chance comes, he will dominate Indian cricket.

Sooryavanshi was also part of the India squad that won gold at the Asian Games 2026, beating arch-rivals Pakistan by 19 runs in the final under Iyer’s captaincy. India will now look to carry that momentum into the West Indies series and aim to seal it early.