Published: July 4, 2026 at 4:43 pm
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s debut is the talking point even as India take on England in the second T20I in Manchester, aiming to seize a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game was washed out due to rain.
India’s team management remains coy as to when and where they might finally unleash 15-year-old phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on international cricket. In the pre-match briefing, bowling coach Morne Morkel suggested they won’t ‘tinker too much’ when asked the inevitable question about Sooryavanshi’s debut.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s a 15-year-old kid, so you need to be very careful with him and advise him to be patient, says Parthiv Patel
Speaking on JioStar’s Game Plan, former India player Parthiv Patel shared his thoughts on India’s batting performance in the first match, Sanju Samson’s form, and whether Sooryavanshi could get an opportunity in the second game.
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Advise Sooryavanshi to be patient
On whether Sooryavanshi will get an opportunity in the second T20I, Parthiv said: “I feel Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get an opportunity at some point in this series. But at this stage, communication is extremely important. When you’re part of the coaching staff, you have to make sure you communicate clearly with the players. Even if you’re not going to play him, you have to tell him that.
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“He’s a 15-year-old kid, so you need to be very careful with him and advise him to be patient. There are a lot of players who have also done really well. Sanju Samson was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan, who is batting at three, is the ICC’s No. 1-ranked T20I batter, while Abhishek Sharma is No. 2. At this point in time, there isn’t a place for Vaibhav in the XI, and that needs to be communicated to him really well,” he said.
No need for Sanju to panic
On Sanju Samson’s dismissal in the first T20I and his form, Parthiv said: “The ball was swinging a bit, there was some spongy bounce as well, and it wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely. So, it was very important to be in a decisive position while playing that shot. Sanju Samson was still slightly moving when he played it. The ball stopped a bit, and because of that, he lacked control.
I don’t think Sanju Samson needs to panic, but obviously, you want runs from him, says Parthiv Patel
“The other big question is whether, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the squad, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be included in the playing XI. I don’t think Sanju needs to panic, but obviously, you want runs from him.”
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Parthiv reckoned that it was important for the Indian batters to get a few runs in the first T20I. “The way India’s first two games against Ireland went, it was important for India to produce this kind of batting performance. There were obviously doubts about whether India could adapt to certain conditions and whether they could change their game plan. Looking at those games in Ireland, in my opinion, this innings was necessary for India, where you see a complete batting performance,” he said.
I thought it was a masterclass from Shreyas Iyer, understanding the situation and the dimensions of the ground. That’s something both the captain and the Indian team would have learned from those two games against Ireland, says Parthiv Patel. Pics: BCCI
Masterclass from Shreyas
On Shreyas Iyer’s first half-century as India captain, he said: “Those raising questions over Shreyas Iyer would have felt a lot more relieved after this innings. As a player, Shreyas Iyer doesn’t have to worry about anything. He’s a proven performer in this format. It was a very important innings because India had lost two early wickets, while at the other end, Abhishek Sharma was batting quite aggressively. So, Shreyas had to play the second fiddle rather than rely too much on hitting sixes, which is something every Indian player is so used to from playing in the IPL. You have to rotate the strike, and score boundaries along the ground. I thought it was a masterclass from Shreyas Iyer, understanding the situation and the dimensions of the ground. That’s something both the captain and the Indian team would have learned from those two games against Ireland.”
