Shreyas Iyer Faces Media, Explains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Contempt After Bad UK Tour
India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer defended the decision to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth and final T20I against England when he faced the media after India’s disastrous tour of Great Britain, saying the team management wanted to try a different opening combination after the series was already lost.
The press conference came at the end of a bloody campaign for India which we swept the T20I series 4-0 after being comprehensively outplayed by England. The defeat not only ended India’s 1,601-day reign at the top of the ICC T20I rankings but also intensified the scrutiny on Iyer, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management during a series of selection calls and tactical decisions.
One of those decisions in the 5th T20I was the omission of Sooryavanshi in the T20I final after the teenager featured in the previous three matches. India instead dismissed Sanju Samson for a dead rubber, a move that drew criticism given that the series was already out of reach.
ENG vs IND 5th T20I: Highlights | Scorecard
DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS
Asked about the decision, Iyer said the management wants to field the right-hander alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order.
“As I mentioned earlier, we wanted to try a combination that we felt would be best for the conditions. We also wanted him to open right-hander with Abhishek and that was one of the main reasons.
“As you saw, I was the only right-hander among the left-handers. We wanted to try a different combination to suit this game. Sanju is a quality batsman and has won us many series in the past.”
While the explanation highlighted the faith India continues to have in Samson, it is unlikely to end the debate surrounding Sooryavanshi’s actions. After sticking with the youngster in the previous three matches, the management changed course in the dead rubber, adding to the sense of inconsistency throughout the tour in which India repeatedly shuffled combinations without finding a winning formula.
CAPTAIN’S TEST
Iyer also insisted that the disappointing tour would help him become a better captain despite suffering the first major setback since taking over the T20I side.
“It’s not difficult, honestly. Captaining India is a privilege. Every player dreams of leading the Indian team.”
The captain said the post-whitewash criticism would not change his approach as India prepares for more overseas assignments.
“Taking over the captaincy comes with responsibility, but I love the pressure and take it as a privilege. These moments will help me grow and make me a better captain for the future.”
“I don’t think too much about what people will say about this series because the good and bad phases are part and parcel of the game. Going forward I have to stay positive and focus on educating the players around me. We know we have the tour to Australia and other overseas series coming up. Our aim will be to build the right camaraderie and adapt to these conditions and that is the plan for the future.”
For Iyer, the press conference was not so much about one selection decision as it was about responding to a tour that has raised vexing questions about India’s planning, selection strategy and ability to adapt to overseas conditions. The Sooryavanshi-Samson challenge was simply the first of many to take center stage after a memorable campaign.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
12 Jul 2026 01:09 IST