Industry Odisha Bureau, Oct 21: India T20 captain Shreyas Iyer has urged teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to remain patient as Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continue to perform consistently at the top of the T20I order.
The 15-year old has played only eight of India’s 21 T20 internationals, despite being selected for tours of England and Ireland earlier this year. Speaking ahead of the five match New Zealand series, Iyer said Sooryavanshi’s ability was not in doubt, but the established openers had earned their places through consistent performances and their role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
Iyer said he had encouraged the youngster to trust his preparation and stay positive around the team. Sooryavanshi received an opening opportunity at the Asian Games. Therein, he scored 53 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 176.66. However, he did not play in the T20I series against the West Indies.
Meanwhile, Head coach Gautam Gambhir has delivered a similar message. He has said that Sooryavanshi would need to wait behind players who had performed over a longer period. Gambhir added that the teenager could receive an extended run once his opportunity arrived.
Further, Iyer also highlighted the value of overseas experience. He said that exposure to different pitches would help Sooryavanshi prepare for future tours.
India’s T20I tour of New Zealand, notably, begins on October 22. With Abhishek and Samson continuing to occupy the opening positions, Sooryavanshi is likely to remain on the sidelines until a place becomes available.
