Former wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has urged the Indian team management to clearly communicate with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the need for patience and why he doesn’t have a place in the starting 11 as the 15-year-old continues to wait for his international debut.
Sooryavanshi, who was picked in India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series after a stunning IPL 2026 campaign, has warmed the bench for three games straight: three in Belfast and then the five-T20I series opener against the English in Durham, which was washed out after the first innings.
Speaking on JioStar, Patel said he expects Sooryavanshi to get an opportunity during the ongoing series but stressed that the coaching staff must be transparent
about his role.
“I feel that at some point in this series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get an opportunity. But at this point in time, communication is something which is very important. When you are part of a coaching staff, you have to make sure that you are giving away the right signals to a batter,” Patel said.
The former wicketkeeper added that handling a player as young as Sooryavanshi requires extra care, even if the decision is to keep him out of the side for the time being.
“Even if you are not going to make him play, you have to tell him that fact. He’s a 15-year-old kid. You have to speak to him carefully. You have to teach him a little patience. Because when you are playing for India, when you are picked for India, there are a lot of other players as well who have done really well,” he said.
Patel also defended India’s current top-order combination, pointing out that the established batters ahead of Sooryavanshi have strong credentials.
“Talking about Sanju Samson. He was the Player of the Series in the World Cup. You have Ishan Kishan, who is batting at No. 3 and is the No. 1 ICC-ranked player. No. 2 is Abhishek Sharma. At this point in time, there is no place, and you have to communicate that really well to Vaibhav Suryavanshi,” Patel added.
India and England will meet in Manchester on Saturday for the second match.
