Shreyas Iyer Clarifies Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Was Benched for All Five IND vs WI T20Is
India captain Shreyas Iyer has addressed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's absence from the recent 2-2 drawn five-match T20I series against West Indies, urging the 15-year-old prodigy to be patient. Iyer praised openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for their consistent form while citing inconsistent bowling as a factor in the series outcome.
India's T20I captain Shreyas Iyer has shed light on the non-selection of young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the fiercely contested five-match series against the West Indies, which concluded with a 2-2 stalemate yesterday. Speaking post-series, Iyer urged the 15-year-old batting prodigy to remain patient, highlighting the consistent form of the established opening pair. India vs West Indies 5th T20I 2026 Washed Out Due to Rain, Series Ends in 2-2 Draw.
Patience Advocated for Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, born on March 27, 2011, is already a known name in Indian cricket circles, having made his international T20I debut against England in July 2026. Despite being part of the Indian squad for the West Indies tour, the left-handed batter did not feature in any of the five T20Is. 'Vaibhav has immense talent, and we all see his potential every day in the nets,' stated Iyer. 'But sometimes, you just have to wait for your opportunity. He's still very young, only 15, and his time will come. We don't want to rush him.' Iyer, who himself is 31 years old, emphasized the importance of trusting the process.
Openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma Lauded
Iyer was effusive in his praise for the opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, whose consistent performances left little room for experimentation at the top of the order. 'Sanju and Abhishek have been outstanding for us," Iyer commented. "Their partnerships have given us strong starts consistently throughout the series, and it's hard to break a winning combination, especially in such a high-stakes series.' Sanju Samson, aged 31, a wicket-keeper batsman, was part of India's 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cup winning teams, while Abhishek Sharma, 26 years old, an explosive left-handed opener, was also a member of the squad that clinched the 2026 T20 World Cup. India Record Fastest Team Fifty in T20Is, Achieve Feat During IND vs WI 5th T20I 2026.
Series Drawn 2-2 Amidst Bowling Concerns
The enthralling five-match T20I series against West Indies culminated in a 2-2 draw. The decisive fifth T20I, scheduled for October 17, 2026, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, was unfortunately impacted by rain. Reflecting on the series outcome, Iyer admitted that inconsistent bowling was a key factor in India failing to secure a series victory. 'Our batting unit showed great intent and delivered under pressure,' he noted. 'However, our bowling, especially in the middle overs, was at times inconsistent, and that's an area we need to address moving forward.' India and West Indies have a competitive head-to-head record in T20Is, with India currently leading with 22 wins to West Indies' 12, and one match ending in a no-result.
Despite the drawn series, the performances of the established players and the emerging talent waiting in the wings provide optimism for India's T20I future. The team will now look to regroup and refine their strategies ahead of their next international assignment, with young players like Sooryavanshi eager for their next chance to shine.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2026 08:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
