Sooryavanshi warmed the bench in the just-concluded five-T20I series against the West Indies.
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar stated that teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely have to wait for his opportunity in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting October 22 in Christchurch.
Nayar emphasized that individual form, team culture, and tactical matchups dictate why Sanju Samson will continue to be backed ahead of the 15-year-old.
Nayar highlighted that although Samson's inconsistent scores routinely invite criticism and calls for Sooryavanshi's inclusion, the wicketkeeper-batter possesses a unique ability to play a massive, match-winning knock just when his position is questioned.
“Sanju plays with everyone’s emotions because he won’t score runs for two matches, and everyone starts raising questions, ‘Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play, Sanju Samson isn’t capitalising on his chances, how long will we wait?’ And at that very moment, he will score an 80 in no time. Sanju is that kind of player who will repeatedly give you opportunities to raise questions about him and then will play a big knock, making the most of his chances. So, there will be moments when there will be talks about his place, but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait,” Nayar told JioStar.
Beyond individual performances, Nayar noted that India’s selection revolves around preserving a strict left-right batting combination in the top order.
He also pointed out that by utilizing a combination of Abhishek Sharma (left-hander), Samson (right-hander), and Ishan Kishan (left-hander), India can strategically prevent New Zealand's off-spinner Michael Bracewell from comfortably bowling out his overs during the powerplay.
“Often, for a team’s culture, if you are a coach or a captain, it is crucial to make the right decisions. If you make haphazard decisions, the impact on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s career is one thing, but the impact on team culture will be far greater. So, according to me, the decision will be, ‘Vaibhav, wait for your time; you will also get opportunities.’
“Maybe in a series where Sanju isn’t there or is rested, he will play. But as long as there is a left-hander at number three and at the top, you will always think that a right-hander in between is necessary. So, it’s not so much about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson; it’s about having that left-right combination so that a bowler like Bracewell doesn’t come and bowl out his overs in the powerplay,” Nayar remarked.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warmed the bench in the just-concluded five-T20I series against the West Indies at home, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
After handing the young prodigy his debut international cap on the tour of England in July, the Indian think tank has played musical chairs with the opening slot. While Abhishek is a regular fixture, Samson and Sooryavanshi compete for the other spot.
Ahead of the Asian Games 2026, the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management played Samson as an opener against Afghanistan despite Sooryavanshi delivering Player-of-the-Series performance in the previous T20I series in Zimbabwe.
During the Asiad on tricky Japan pitches, both Samson and Sooryavanshi feature in the playing XI, with the former dropping to No. 3 and the latter opening alongside Abhishek. However, the teenager was left out of the lineup once the team resumed bilateral action against the West Indies.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has represented India in 8 T20Is so far, scoring 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries.