As India prepare to begin their five-match T20I series against England, much of the attention continues to revolve around teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
While fans eagerly await the 15-year-old's international debut, former England spinner Graeme Swann believes Jofra Archer could hold a slight advantage over the youngster thanks to his IPL experience.
Speaking on JioStar's Game Plan, Swann suggested Archer's familiarity with Sooryavanshi's game could make him England's biggest weapon if the teenager gets an opportunity.
"Jofra Archer has probably seen more of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. "
Swann admitted that preparing for a batter like Sooryavanshi is difficult because of his fearless approach, but believes Archer's exposure to the youngster during the IPL could prove valuable.
"It's hard to prepare
for a player like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He is still new to international cricket, but he has already played two IPL seasons. That means there is video footage available. Some of the England bowlers may have bowled to him in the IPL," Swann said on JioStar.
"But the truth is, no one has really had much success against him so far. He has looked almost unplayable. "
The former England spinner pointed to Archer as the one bowler who may already have identified a possible weakness.
"The one bowler who might have a slight advantage is Jofra Archer. He has seen Sooryavanshi from the dugout, bowled to him in the nets, and watched him closely. He has probably seen more of him than anyone else. "
"Maybe he has spotted a weakness. Maybe he has a plan. And he has the express pace to back it up. "
"But so far, no matter who has bowled to Sooryavanshi, no matter how highly rated the bowler, he has always had an answer. "
Pujara expects Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to wait for his chance
While the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi continues to grow, Cheteshwar Pujara believes India are unlikely to hand him an immediate debut.
Speaking on JioStar, Pujara said India's established top order deserves more time despite the recent series defeat to Ireland.
"There is a lot of hype around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. As a young player, he shouldn't pay attention to what is being said about him. He needs to block out the outside noise and focus on his game. "
"I don't think he will get a chance straight away in the England series because India wouldn't want to change their top three. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan are quality batters who have helped India win the T20 World Cup. "
Pujara added that if Sooryavanshi does get an opportunity later in the series, he should avoid burdening himself with expectations.
"If the opportunity arrives, the key for him will be to stay relaxed and calm. He shouldn't put pressure on himself to score big runs. He should just go out and express himself. "
He also warned that conditions in England will present a far tougher examination than the IPL.
"What he did in the IPL won't be easy to replicate in English conditions. So, he needs to prepare well and get used to the conditions. Once he has done that, it will be about watching the ball and playing it on its merit. "
Pujara backs Shreyas Iyer despite England challenge
Pujara also believes India's new T20I captain Shreyas Iyer faces a difficult assignment as he looks to bounce back from the 0-2 series defeat to Ireland.
"It is going to be challenging for Shreyas Iyer to become the third Indian skipper after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to win a T20I series in England. "
"There is no doubt about that. Playing in English conditions, even with better white-ball pitches, is still a different kind of challenge. "
The veteran batter, however, expressed confidence in Iyer's leadership credentials.
"As a captain, I don't have doubts about him. He has done a great job with Punjab Kings in the IPL, and that is why he has been given this role. "
"He is a proactive leader, leads from the front, and gives freedom to his players. So as a captain, he should be fine. "
Pujara believes Iyer's biggest challenge lies with the bat.
"The real test will be with his batting. He will have to prove himself in the middle order and deliver in English conditions. "
India begin the five-match T20I series against England looking to recover from their disappointing Ireland tour, with the spotlight firmly fixed on whether Sooryavanshi finally receives his much-anticipated international debut.
