‘He had to fix where he went wrong’: Shreyas Iyer backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of Zimbabwe series

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photos) NEW DELHI: India captain Shreyas Iyer has lined up teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, expressing his belief that the youngster has learned from his difficult introduction to international cricket and is ready to make a bigger impact.On the eve of the series opener in Harare, Iyer said he had no concerns about Sooryavanshi’s ability to bounce back after the 15-year-old endured a tough tour of England.The teenager, who became India’s youngest international cricketer during the England series, managed only modest returns before being left out of the fifth match when Sanju Samson returned to the playing eleven.Despite the setback, Iyer believes the youngster has used the break productively.“All the youngsters, I think, have definitely trained. There was a decent gap after the T20 series. So he (Sooryavanshi) had to correct where he went wrong. So I don’t need to give much advice personally,” Iyer said.

Iyer calls on the fearless cricketer

India head into the Zimbabwe series looking to bounce back from a disappointing white-ball tour of Ireland and England under Iyer’s captaincy.The captain urged his young team to play with freedom and not worry about criticism or the fear of failure.“I don’t think they should be afraid of failure because when you have those thoughts in the back of your mind, then you’re playing for survival. When you don’t have that fear, you can bring out the best in yourself,” Iyer said.With India traveling straight from England and having just one practice session before the opening game, Iyer acknowledged the challenge but backed his side to adapt quickly.Reflecting on his comeback from injury, the 31-year-old said overcoming setbacks has made him mentally stronger.“It makes me more confident as an individual. When you get over the injury phase, it puts you in a very positive frame of mind. Whatever challenges you face on the field, you know how quickly you can overcome them,” he said.

Sooryavanshi ready to move on

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi admitted that the past four months have been an emotional rollercoaster, but insisted that his confidence remains intact.“Yes, there have been some ups and downs in the last four months; it’s part of cricket, it’s going to happen, but I have to follow the process and give 100 per cent to the team,” the youngster told bcci.tv.His omission in the T20I final against England drew criticism from the team management, with several former cricketers questioning the decision to drop the teenager after just three innings.However, Sooryavanshi said the support from the coaching staff helped him regain focus.“It goes without saying that whatever I want (guidance, etc.) the coaches make it available to me and I get whatever practice I want. I feel very good, there’s also confidence,” he said.The Zimbabwe tour also holds special significance for the youngster. He played in India’s triumphant U-19 World Cup campaign at the same venue in Harare earlier this year, smashing a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls in the final against England.“It’s a very memorable pitch for me. Just four months ago we played the U19 World Cup final and we won, so a very special pitch,” he said.Confident of the knowledge he gained during this tournament, Sooryavanshi said he hopes to use his knowledge of the conditions if he is selected for the inaugural T20I.“I will support my practice that I have done so far and I will try to support my game … whatever contribution I can make to the team, I will try to give it,” he said.