‘Will dominate Indian cricket’: Shreyas Iyer’s big call on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi; Abhishek Sharma Says “He Belongs Here”

Shreyas Iyer and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: BCCI) NEW DELHI: Shreyas Iyer and Abhishek Sharma, fresh from a gold medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games, have returned to the domestic season with their sights set on the next generation of Indian cricket. Among the youngest members of the squad, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has caught plenty of attention – but Iyer believes the teenage sensation is still waiting for his chance to make a big impact.As India prepare to open their five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Iyer opened up about his interactions with Sooryavanshi and revealed that their conversations often go beyond cricket. The India T20I captain said he is deliberately trying to understand the teenager outside of the sport, where the youngster is more comfortable being himself.

“Very quiet but very destructive on the pitch”

Talking about JioStar’s ‘Follow the Blues: Sarpanch Shreyas’, Iyer said he enjoyed getting to know Sooryavanshi away from the pressure and expectations surrounding his cricket.“I still interact with Vaibhav in terms of what he’s doing off the field because everyone talks to him about cricket and we know how talented and gifted he is as an individual. So, just talking about his lifestyle outside, that interaction, knowing about his family, what he’s doing, what he’s not doing, it excites him more because when he talks about it, he’s more himself,” Iyer.The contrast between Sooryavanshi’s personality away from cricket and his aggressive approach with the bat also caught the attention of the captain.“And a very quiet guy, but on the field, he’s very destructive. So, when you look at him, it’s like irony. He’s a very charming, nice guy to interact with and it’s good to have him in the dressing room,” Iyer added.While Sooryavanshi remains part of the squad, Iyer stressed that the youngster must bide his time, with established World Cup winners India ahead of him in the order.“And I know his time will come because right now we are playing the World Cup winners who deserve that time and he is still at 15. So for sure when his time comes he will dominate Indian cricket,” Iyer said.

Abhishek: “She Belongs Here”

Abhishek, who was also part of India’s gold medal-winning Asian Games, echoed Iyer’s belief in Sooryavanshi’s potential while stressing the importance of the teenager settling in comfortably in the dressing room.The left-handed opener said Sooryavanshi is already more used to the demands of professional cricket than most teenagers of his age who have spent several years in the cricket system.“He’s a very smart guy. He’s not like what we used to do at 15 or anybody else because he’s been in that cricket setup for 2-3 years now. So he knows what, where and how much to practice. I feel gradually these are things he’ll learn more with experience. And what we’re discussing in the team along with all the teammates is how can we make him more comfortable,” Abhishek told JioStar.The 26-year-old also believes the onus is on the senior players to ensure Sooryavanshi does not feel overwhelmed by the attention surrounding his rapid rise.“Because we all know what he’s achieved and that he belongs here. So I also feel it’s my duty as well to make him feel that all of us, his older brothers, are here for him. You just have to enjoy it and give your best and win games whenever you get the chance,” he added.

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Iyer wants winning to come first

While the arrival of youngsters like Sooryavanshi offers India an opportunity to build depth, Iyer has made it clear that experimentation will not come at the expense of results.“The most important thing for me is to win the series and then we can experiment with the playing combination. It makes no sense to experiment from the beginning, because then the players also become insecure and then they start to question themselves, they question others around the dressing room. And then they get to that stage of dilemma where they feel: ‘Am I going to get a game ahead or not?’ I don’t like that mindset. I have been in this state of mind in the past and I know what it is like from the inside,” said Iyer.The West Indies series therefore marks the start of the next phase for India, with the Asian Games gold medal behind them, the focus shifts to building a settled and confident side.