Former wicketkeeper batsman in India Parthiv Patel backed the Indian team management’s cautious handling of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but insisted that clear communication with the youngster is essential as he waits for his international debut.With growing calls for the 15-year-old to be included in India’s playing XI during the ongoing T20I series against England, Parthiv believes Sooryavanshi will eventually get his chance. However, he stressed that the coaching staff must ensure that the youngster fully understands where he is in the team.Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Parthiv said, “I feel it Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get an opportunity at some point in this series. But at this stage, communication is extremely important. When you are part of the coaching staff, you need to make sure you communicate clearly with the players. Even if you’re not going to play him, you have to tell him.”“He is a 15-year-old kid, so you have to be very careful with him and advise him to be patient. There are a lot of players who were also very good. Sanju Samson he was the player of the tournament in the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan, who bats at three, is the ICC’s no. 1-ranked T20I batsman, doc Abhishek Sharma is No. 2. There is no place for Vaibhav in the XI at the moment, and that needs to be communicated to him very well,” he added.Parthiv’s comments came a day after India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel also called for patience, reiterating the management’s faith in established openers Sanja Samson and Abhishek Sharma despite mounting demands for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion.Talking about Samson’s lackluster run during the ongoing UK tour, Morkel said the coaching staff had a responsibility to support the players who have consistently delivered for India.“I think we need to respect the fact that we had our first batsman in T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma. Sanju was a World Cup player,” Morkel explained. “Samson had a great IPL. So as a coaching staff, it’s only fair to show confidence and support for your players. Yes, a youngster is knocking on the door, and that’s exciting. But not just for those two players at the top, but for the whole group, it’s good that we show our support.“Morkel also made it clear that India were not willing to change the batting order just to accommodate a new player.“In one day, it’s about putting performances on the board. That’s the key. But we also don’t want to overthink and put other players in different positions. So it’s not as simple as just saying, ‘Let’s play Sooryavanshi.’“It’s about standing with some of the guys who have won the World Cup, who have done well in tough situations and then build from there to strengthen our top order as much as possible in these conditions.”Sooryavanshi broke into the senior set-up after a phenomenal IPL 2026 campaign for Rajasthan Royalsscoring 776 runs at an incredible strike rate of 237.30 to win the player of the tournament award. However, he is still awaiting his India debut after being benched during the recent T20I series in Ireland, which India lost 2-0.
