Shreyas Iyer backs Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson as India openers

India captain Shreyas Iyer said the management will stick with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson at the top, leaving 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench for the entire five-match T20I series against West Indies. The series finished 2-2 when rain washed out the decider in Bengaluru.

Sooryavanshi has eight T20Is and 246 runs at a strike rate above 186, yet he stayed in the dugout. Across the same five games, Samson made 168 and Abhishek 145. Iyer told the teenager to stay patient, keep his process simple and his mindset light.

Next up is a five-match T20I tour of New Zealand beginning 22 October in Christchurch. Iyer conceded India must bowl better after twice leaking more than 240 runs against the West Indies, where Shai Hope scored 261 and took player-of-the-series honours.