Shreyas Iyer Tells Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Wait for NZ T20I Chance

Teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to spend the New Zealand T20I series on the sidelines. India’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, has made it clear that the young left-hander cannot simply walk into the playing XI at this stage. Sooryavanshi did not feature in a single T20I against the West Indies, and the same pattern is likely to continue on the tour to New Zealand.

Openers Hold the Edge

The reason is simple: India’s opening pair is performing well. Unless Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma is rested, injured or badly out of form, the management sees no reason to disturb a combination that is delivering. Changing a winning formula for the sake of change, especially on an important overseas tour, would make little sense.

Management Keeps Him in the Loop

What stands out is how openly the team has handled the situation. Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir have both stressed that Sooryavanshi should stay motivated and keep his focus on process and consistency rather than on selection. Iyer said it is important that a talent of his calibre feels happy and valued in the dressing room, even when he is not in the starting eleven. The youngster has been told exactly where he stands, which should help him handle the wait.

Age is firmly on Sooryavanshi’s side. With so many years of cricket ahead, a short delay is unlikely to dent his career. Observers believe that once he does get an opportunity, whether through a rest, an injury or a dip in form among the openers, he could settle into a longer run in the side.

For now, his job is to stay ready, keep learning from the senior players and wait for his moment. India, meanwhile, will go into the series with the batting order that has served them well so far.