New Delhi: India captain Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for regular opportunities in the T20 International side, with established openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to deliver consistent performances.
Speaking ahead of India’s five match T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer stressed that Sooryavanshi’s talent was not in question but competition for places remained intense. The teenager has featured in only eight of India’s 21 T20 Internationals since earning selection for the England and Ireland tour earlier this year.
Abhishek and Samson have strengthened their positions through consistent performances and played important roles in India’s successful defence of their T20 World Cup title earlier this year.
Iyer emphasised that Sooryavanshi, given his young age, has considerable time to establish himself at the international level. He also highlighted the importance of keeping the youngster comfortable within the team environment while ensuring he remains prepared for future opportunities.
The captain believes that exposure to overseas conditions will benefit Sooryavanshi in the long run. Playing in different conditions will help him understand unfamiliar pitches and develop the experience needed for future international assignments. That knowledge could also prove valuable when other players encounter similar conditions for the first time.
India’s preparations for the New Zealand series come after a demanding schedule involving consecutive home series against Afghanistan and the West Indies, along with participation in the Asian Games. Iyer acknowledged the challenges of frequent travel but said the team remained focused on adapting quickly and finding ways to win.
New Zealand’s pace friendly pitches and colder weather could test India’s batters, who are more accustomed to familiar home conditions. Iyer said the team would use practice sessions to assess the surfaces and prepare individual strategies.
He also acknowledged New Zealand’s home advantage, particularly its familiarity with local pitches, while describing competition for places in India’s strong squad as a positive challenge.
On his own batting position, Iyer indicated that he was unlikely to move up the order, with Ishan Kishan performing well at number three. He reiterated that flexibility remained essential, adding that his batting position would depend on the team’s requirements and the situation during a match.