Why is India keeping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench?

Shreyas Iyer has made it plain: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, at 15, isn't walking straight into India's T20 side. The captain named Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma — both in form and both part of the 2026 World Cup win — as the reasons the teenager stays on the bench.

Sooryavanshi has played eight of India's 21 T20Is this year, but he hasn't taken the field once in the five-match West Indies series at home or the opening game against New Zealand. Iyer argues the dressing-room experience itself helps: the youngster learns overseas conditions, stays sharp, and can even brief other newcomers when they arrive.

His clearest route in looks to be the final couple of matches if India wrap the series up early.