Vaibhav Sooryavanshi left out of India playing XI for first T20I against West Indies
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi misses out as India prefer Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for West Indies series opener.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of India's playing XI for the first T20I against West Indies in Lucknow on Tuesday. The 15-year-old featured in the Asian Games squad but missed out as India opted for Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as openers. Naman Dhir made his T20I debut in the match.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel said the team management would rotate players based on how they felt after the Asian Games. He emphasised that Sooryavanshi would benefit from being around the squad even without regular game time. The teenager has played eight T20Is since his debut earlier this year.
Sooryavanshi is yet to play an international match on home soil. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had previously told the youngster he would need to wait for his opportunity behind the established opening pair.
CricHubb Take
The decision prioritises continuity over experimentation. Sooryavanshi's development now depends on how quickly he can force his way into a settled top order.