Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut in doubt as coach hints it may be delayed: 'He will get his dues...'

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s much-awaited India debut could be delayed as the team management faces a tough selection call ahead of the T20 series opener against Ireland. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said the 15-year-old sensation will get his opportunity, but it should not come at the cost of a player who is already performing and scoring runs for the team.

Sooryavanshi is on the verge of creating history as he will become the youngest player to represent India if he takes the field in the opening match of the two-game series on Friday, June 26. The teenager has been making headlines with his fearless batting, especially after impressing in the IPL 2026 season and other domestic and age-group competitions.

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However, fitting him into the playing XI will not be easy for newly-appointed captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir. India enter the series with a strong and in-form squad after winning their second consecutive T20 World Cup title earlier this year. This has left limited opportunities available for others in the team, especially those who have been included just recently.

"Vaibhav is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. Because in IPL he has faced Jofra, a lot of quick bowlers, a lot of experienced bowlers. And it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent," Kotak said in the pre-match press conference.

"Today evening, captain and head coach will decide about the team. And if he plays great, if he doesn't play also for me, that is great because he is part of Indian team. And I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don't think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs," he added.

"That also won't be right. I think there is a very thin line between trying to give somebody an opportunity and being unfair to some other player," said Kotak.

Kotak on selection headache

With so much T20 talent ready for the highest level, Kotak feels even selectors have a very tough job at hand. He is relieved that he is not part of the team selection process.

"If you ask me, there is so much talent in India that even the selectors have a headache. Honestly saying, I don't have such a big headache because I am not the head coach and the captain. But sometimes it is tough.

"But we also have to remember one thing that those who are already performing, they should never be ignored, as I believe. Those who are already scoring, winning games for the team. BCCI's structure is such that players will keep coming," said the former Saurashtra cricketer when asked how tough it is to bench someone from a World Cup-winning squad.

Does a teenage talent like him need extra attention of the team management? "I feel that at this level, maturity, decision-making, and intent of those who perform at this level will always be good. And more than that, as long as he feels that he is part of the team, he can freely behave the way he behaves in other teams. That is good enough.

"And thanks to the BCCI system, the boys who come from U19, India A they more or less understand the culture of their Indian team. So, it is not that there is a lot of difference for him. But what we were saying is that he should enjoy.

"If he wants to ask or share something, he should do. Gautam was saying the same thing to him. You just feel like you are playing for your own team and just say whatever you feel," said Kotak.

Kotak on Iyer's captaincy

Iyer has come back into the T20 side as captain, having proved his leadership in the IPL. Kotak said someone like Iyer knows how to lead efficiently.

"It is not like that he is with the team for the first time. Even in this team, you will see that there will be 2-3-4 senior players who will be in the leadership group. No matter who the captain is, they keep helping each other. Shreyas has done a lot of captaincy in IPL, he has done it for Mumbai.

"So he has a lot of experience. In fact, when he became champion with Gautam in KKR, Shreyas was the captain. So it's not like people are expecting something different from him or he is expecting something different.

"The thing that we always have is that we will keep the team first, we will do whatever is needed for the team. I think his speech in the huddle today was the same. That we will look after everyone," added Kotak.

(With agency inputs)