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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 30, 2026 | The Indian Eye 46

Why India’s teenage

sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

is waiting in the wings

Despite his extraordinary talent and growing popularity, the 15-year-old must wait for his turn as

India balance potential with performance and team combination

OUR BUREAU
Christchurch, NZ

aibhav Sooryavanshi has al-
ready achieved what most
Vyoung cricketers can only
dream of, but the 15-year-old Indi-
an batting sensation is discovering
that extraordinary talent and a grow-
ing fan following do not guarantee a
place in the playing XI.
As calls for his inclusion grow
louder, India batting coach Sitanshu
Kotak believes the mounting hype
surrounding the teenager could do
more harm than good, both to the
youngster and to the team. India, he
insists, cannot make selection deci-
sions simply because a player has cap-
tured the public imagination.
“I genuinely felt that wasn’t good
for the player also. Just a 15-16-year-
old boy, and everyone saying ‘he
should play’ and ‘he isn’t being picked’ The teenager made his T20I debut in early July after an outstanding Player-of-the-Tournament performance in IPL 2026 (ANI photo)
and so on. He is too young,” Kotak
said at a pre-match press conference cricket, but the established openers playing well, or Abhishek is playing technical weaknesses.
ahead of the second T20 Internation- have also been producing performanc- well — how can they be left out,” the Kotak, however, has little inten-
al against New Zealand. es that make dropping them difficult. batting coach said. “If I were in his tion of turning Sooryavanshi into a
The debate could take on greater “It’s sad for the other openers place I would too. But he is a simple different kind of batter. His approach
significance on Saturday after wicket- also, who are performing but people boy. It’s not like he has complained or has been to refine the youngster’s de-
keeper-batter Ishan Kishan was ruled are saying ‘why is he playing’,” Kotak looked downcast.” cision-making without diluting the at-
out of the match with a low-grade said, pointing to the uncomfortable Kotak sees value in the waiting tacking instincts that distinguish him
right adductor strain sustained during position in which the public debate period, arguing that exposure to the from other players.
the series opener. The injury could can place both the youngster and his demands of international cricket in- “What I have normally spoken
open a place in India’s top order, po- teammates. volves lessons that cannot be learnt to him about is discussing what shots
tentially giving Sooryavanshi another For India, the challenge is not through explosive strokeplay alone. to play when the ball moves around
opportunity to make his case. simply about finding room for a “See, hitting ability is one thing, and the and things like that. But I won’t tin-
The teenager made his T20I de- promising batter. It is about manag- things you learn by being at this level ker with his intent or the way he ap-
but in early July after an outstand- ing a crowded batting line-up while day after day is another thing. He will proaches the game unless there is a
ing Player-of-the-Tournament per- ensuring that a teenager’s develop- learn that. This [waiting for his turn] major reason for doing so,” he said.
formance in IPL 2026. Yet he has ment is not overshadowed by expec- will do a lot of good to him,” he said. The coach described Sooryavan-
featured in only seven of India’s 19 tations that may be difficult to meet That assessment offers an in- shi as a batter who does not merely
matches since then, with the team consistently at the international level. sight into why India may be reluctant react to deliveries but often looks to
generally preferring Sanju Samson, Kotak believes Sooryavanshi un- to rush the youngster into a regular impose himself on the opposition.
Abhishek Sharma and Kishan in the derstands the situation better than role. The ability to dominate bowlers “There are batters who choose the
top three. the outside noise might suggest. The is only one part of a batter’s develop- shots based on the merit of the deliv-
The numbers underline the di- teenager has accepted that teammates ment. Reading conditions, assessing ery. There are other batters who de-
lemma facing the team management. who are performing cannot easily be deliveries and knowing when to attack cide what shots to play irrespective of
Sooryavanshi’s explosive batting displaced, even as he naturally wants are equally important, particularly in what the ball is doing and creates that
has made him one of the most talk- more opportunities himself. international cricket, where opposi- shot. Vaibhav is in the latter category.
ed-about young prospects in Indian “He understood that Sanju is tion bowlers can exploit even small He dominates bowlers,” Kotak said.

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