Captain of India Shreyas Iyer refused to reveal whether teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will make his international debut in the T20I opener against England on Wednesday, stressing that the players who helped India win the T20 World Cup deserve further support. Speculation about Sooryavanshi’s inclusion has been mounting ever since the 15-year-old was named in India’s squads for the tours of Ireland and England. However, giving him a debut would probably require India to tear apart their successful opening partnership Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Speaking to the media ahead of the series opener, Iyer said the team management’s priority is to provide stability and confidence to the current group. “Look, all the players in the team performed well, it’s not just one individual. “But we have to build that opportunity and security, so that every individual has the confidence to progress in the tournaments. The players who won the last World Cup definitely have an idea of ​​how to play T20, and have continuously been mainstays of that format, so it’s very important to support them.” When asked directly if Sooryavanshi will feature in the XI, Iyer chose not to reveal the team’s plans. “You never know what’s going to happen. Our hands are also tied at this point in terms of what we’re going to do. This is very private. “It’s something we talk about in the team. We can’t let everyone know what combination we’re going to play and let the opposition know it’s going to happen. He’s a child prodigy and whenever he gets a chance to play, he’s definitely going to do (a) brilliant (job).” The Indian captain also dismissed suggestions that there was external pressure on the team to give the youngster a debut. “I don’t see anything like that. Really, I don’t know. I don’t follow the news, I don’t follow what’s happening on social media. I haven’t heard anything.”
Iyer reflects on Ireland’s decline
Iyer also reflected on India’s recent 0-2 loss to Ireland in the T20I series, admitting the result was disappointing but insisting it offered valuable lessons. “It wasn’t embarrassing, but it was depressing for us, because we definitely didn’t expect Ireland to play so well. “They outplayed us in every segment, they had brilliant ideas about the dimensions of the field, and we failed in the analysis and planning of the field and dimensions, and how the goalpost will be played.” He credited Ireland for their performance, expressing his belief that India had moved on. “All credit to them, but we learned a lot from that series. This is a whole new chapter for us coming here. “A few of us have played in England before and we know the conditions (and) the dimensions here. So we’re looking forward to an intense and challenging series.”
The conditions in Belfast caught India off guard
According to Iyer, India’s inability to adapt quickly to the unique conditions in Belfast contributed to the loss of the series. “(We played in) Belfast after so many years. “That’s not the reason (for the series loss), but I’m just saying that (in) getting used to the gate (and) the conditions, we fell a little short, (also) in terms of reading the outfield.” He described the venue as the pitches that Indian players are used to. “The pitch in Belfast was definitely not a stadium. The outfield was a bit slow and uneven. The dimensions were also a bit square. “Also as a captain, for me (while) setting the field, it felt a bit unusual, because we’re not used to it. We played in the IPL, all the pitches were perfectly equal from all directions. So that was a bit challenging.” Iyer believes the conditions in England will be more familiar. “Here (in England), the dimensions are quite similar but the pitch is flat and you feel the atmosphere of the stadium, the crowd would be intense as well. We’ve played in those conditions, those situations before. So yes, (we’re) building on that.”
‘I trust my instincts’
Despite modest returns during the Ireland series, Iyer said he remains confident in his batting. “The way I timed the ball in the net, even in the previous game, I thought I timed it brilliantly, just the odd ball bounced and took the inside edge. “It doesn’t excuse how my batting is or how much pressure I handle. I definitely trust my instincts. I know how well I play under pressure.”
