If Vaibhav Sooryavanshi doesn’t have a place in the T20I team, tell him that: Parthiv Patel

India handed first T20I call-up to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old’s record-breaking campaign in the Indian Premier League 2026. While many expected him to go straight into the playing XI, India instead opted for a patient approach.

The Gautam Gambhir-led team management decided not to give Sooryavanshi a debut during the two-match series in Ireland. Despite India’s disastrous 0-2 defeat, the team stuck with the same combination for the first T20I against England, leading to another bench game for the young left-hander.

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, himself one of India’s youngest Test debutants, said the team management needs to be clear in its communication with Sooryavanshi. Parthiv said that if India intend to stick with their T20 World Cup winning opening pair, they should tell Vaibhav that there is no place for him in the playing eleven at the moment.

“When you are part of the coaching team, you have to make sure that you communicate clearly with the players. Even if you are not going to play with him, you have to tell him. He is a 15-year-old boy, so you have to be very careful with him and advise him to be patient,” Parthiv Patel said on JioStar.

“There are a lot of players who have done really well as well. Sanju Samson was the player of the tournament in the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan, who bats at No. 3, is the ICC’s No. 1 batsman in T20Is, while Abhishek Sharma is No. 2. There’s really no need for him to communicate at the moment at V. well,” he added.

However, the former Indian cricketer feels that Vaibhav is likely to make his debut at some stage in the ongoing England series, which still has four matches left.

India play the second T20I of the series in Manchester on Saturday, July 4. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are expected to continue as the opening pair.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

04 Jul 2026 15:04 IST