Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have secured a place in India’s T20I squad, but his international debut is unlikely to come immediately. Despite generating immense excitement among fans after his remarkable performances at the domestic level and in franchise cricket, the 15-year-old will have to wait for an opportunity as the Indian team management continues to back its established opening combination.
Sooryavanshi was included in India’s squad for the T20I series against Ireland but did not feature in either match. Instead, the team persisted with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as the opening pair despite India’s disappointing performances in the series. While Abhishek contributed 49 in the opening game, Samson struggled for runs, registering scores of 5 and 0. However, the management believes those results alone are not enough to justify changing the combination.
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India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate made it clear that Sooryavanshi is ready for international cricket but stressed that the team also has a responsibility to show faith in players who have delivered in the recent past.
According to the coach, Samson played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year and also enjoyed a respectable IPL campaign. He emphasised that successful teams are built by giving players extended opportunities rather than reacting to a couple of poor performances. The management, therefore, remains committed to maintaining stability in the batting order.
Samson and Abhishek have formed India’s preferred opening partnership in T20Is since the 2024 World Cup. Together, they have accumulated nearly 600 runs as an opening pair and are already among India’s highest run-scoring opening combinations in the format. Although their average has room for improvement, the duo has provided consistency and familiarity at the top of the order.
With a five-match T20I series against England approaching, India are expected to continue with the same opening combination. That means Sooryavanshi will likely have to wait a little longer before receiving his maiden international cap.
Ten Doeschate reiterated that the youngster’s talent is beyond doubt and that everyone within the setup is eager to see him represent India. However, he added that Sooryavanshi must follow the same pathway as every other player by remaining patient and waiting for the right opportunity.
For now, India’s message is straightforward: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has a bright future ahead, but his time in the national team’s playing XI will come only when the management believes the moment is right.
