Vaibhav Suryavanshi has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket, with his performances drawing attention despite his age. The 15-year-old has already featured in international T20 cricket and will be looking to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way.
Ahead of India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer addressed the youngster’s prospects and shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him. His comments have offered a fresh update on Suryavanshi’s immediate future with the national side.
Shreyas Iyer opens up on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s chances
Speaking ahead of the opening T20I in Christchurch, Iyer made it clear that Suryavanshi would have to wait for his opportunities as long as India’s regular openers continued to deliver. The captain acknowledged the teenager’s potential but stressed that the performances of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson made it difficult for the youngster to walk straight into the playing XI.
He further explained why the teenager would not automatically get a place in the XI despite his impressive start to international cricket. Suryavanshi has scored 246 runs in eight T20Is at a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries. During the Asian Games, Samson moved down to No. 3 to allow the youngster to open the innings. Iyer also highlighted the benefits of Suryavanshi’s exposure to overseas conditions, explaining that the experience would help him prepare for future assignments.
“It’s important that a talent like him (Suryavanshi) should always be happy around the dressing room. It’s not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup. So, if you see, when he is coming overseas, he will get a fair idea how to play on these particular wickets. Next time, whenever he comes in these conditions, he will be very well-prepared. And he can also instruct the other team members, whoever comes here for the first time,” Iyer said.
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Bright future awaits the teenage sensation
At just 15, Suryavanshi has already earned a place in India’s senior T20I setup. However, competing with established international batters means regular opportunities may not come immediately. Abhishek and Samson were important contributors to India’s successful T20 World Cup title defence earlier this year, strengthening their positions at the top of the order.
Rather than rushing the teenager into the playing XI, India can use the ongoing tour to help him gain experience of overseas conditions. Iyer believes that understanding how different pitches behave will benefit Suryavanshi when he gets further opportunities. For now, the youngster will have to remain patient while continuing to learn from senior teammates. With his international career still in its early stages, Suryavanshi has time to develop his game and establish himself as a regular option for India.
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