Shreyas Iyer says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must wait for opening slot
Iyer said the management will continue with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson after the 2-2 series result. Sooryavanshi's last appearance came in the Asian Games final.
India captain Shreyas Iyer said on Saturday that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunity as the team continues to back established openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. The 15-year-old has not played in the five-match T20I series against West Indies, which ended in a 2-2 draw after the final match in Bengaluru was washed out.
Iyer told reporters that the two senior openers have won a World Cup for India and have remained consistent with their run scoring. He added that Sooryavanshi must stay patient and keep his mindset light despite his strong IPL season with Rajasthan Royals. The left-hander last featured in the Asian Games final against Pakistan.
Iyer scored 590 runs at a strike rate of 152.45 across 21 T20Is since taking over as captain in June. India will play a five-match series against New Zealand starting October 22 in Christchurch.
CricHubb Take
Iyer's public backing of the current openers indicates the team will not rush Sooryavanshi into the XI even for the New Zealand series, prioritising continuity over potential.