India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has finally addressed the growing debate surrounding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s omission after India suffered a shocking 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland.
India lost the second T20I by just one run as Ireland captain Lorgan Tucker led his side to a memorable series sweep. Chasing 155, India endured a disastrous start with both Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma dismissed for ducks, leaving the batting unit under immense pressure.
Following the defeat, the team management came under heavy criticism from fans and experts for not giving the 15-year-old batting sensation an opportunity despite India’s struggles at the top of the order.
Explaining the decision, ten Doeschate stressed the importance of backing senior players who have consistently delivered for the team.
“The message is simple. When you back players over a long period and through an entire cycle, one or two failures shouldn’t lead to reactive changes,” said the assistant coach.
He further added that Vaibhav is ready for international cricket but must wait for the right opportunity.
“Vaibhav is absolutely ready to play international cricket, but you can’t leave Sanju Samson out. He played a major role in our T20 World Cup triumph. We want to give players a proper run. Vaibhav’s opportunity will come.”
Ten Doeschate also indicated that the transition to younger players would happen gradually, rather than at the cost of experienced performers.
India now face another stern challenge as they travel directly to England for a five-match T20I series beginning on July 1 in Chester-le-Street. The team’s opening combination is expected to remain one of the biggest talking points following the disappointing Ireland tour.
If selected during the England series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would become the youngest player ever to represent India in international cricket, surpassing the record held by Sachin Tendulkar. With India looking to bounce back after the unexpected setback in Ireland, all eyes will be on the selectors and whether they decide to hand the teenage prodigy his long-awaited debut.
