- Hype around Sooryavanshi not good for him or team, says Sitanshu Kotak India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not in India ‘s T20I XI?
- It’s a question cricket-watchers perhs ask before each fixture.
- “He is really young, but the way everyone in the team management takes care of him – I keep an eye neutrally – and everyone likes him, social media likes him, team also likes him.
Hype around Sooryavanshi not good for him or team, says Sitanshu Kotak India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not in India ‘s T20I XI?
It’s a question cricket-watchers perhs ask before each fixture. “He is really young, but the way everyone in the team management takes care of him – I keep an eye neutrally – and everyone likes him, social media likes him, team also likes him. But you can’t make changes to the XI because people like him,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said ahead of the second T20I against New Zealand.
“He is very talented and I believe he has a bright, bright future ahead. So once he gets his opportunities and settles down, he will learn a lot of things.” Sooryavanshi, however, is likely to play on Saturday after Ishan Kishan sustained a right adductor strain in the first T20I . Kotak is excited by the prospect but said the hype around 15-year-old Sooryavanshi hasn’t helped him or the others.
“I felt that at the start, there was a lot of hype that ‘he has to play’. I genuinely felt that wasn’t good for the player also. Just a 15-16-year-old boy, and everyone saying ‘he should play’ and ‘he isn’t being picked’ and so on.
He is too young. It’s something I can’t control but it’s sad. And it’s sad for the other openers also, who are performing but people are saying ‘why is he playing’.” In general, India have preferred the top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Kishan despite Sooryavanshi’s presence.
“Now he is much more mature. He understood that Sanju is playing well, or Abhishek is playing well – how can they be left out,” Kotak said. “The middle order is also packed.
Everyone understands that but of course he wants to play. If I were in his place I would too. But he is a simple boy.
It’s not like he has complained or looked downcast. See, hitting ability is one thing, and the things you learn by being at this level day after day is another thing. He will learn that.
This [waiting for his turn] will do a lot of good to him.” There has been the matter of keeping Sooryavanshi motivated while he waits. He made his T20I debut in early July, soon after his Player-of-the-Tournament show in IPL 2026 , but has played only seven further games out of India’s 19 in this period. “What I have normally spoken to him about is discussing what shots to play when the ball moves around and things like that.
But I won’t tinker with his intent or the way he proaches the game unless there is a major reason for doing so,” Kotak said. “He has so much ability that he doesn’t really struggle. He just decides what shots to play.
There are batters who choose the shots based on the merit of the delivery. There are other batters who decide what shots to play irrespective of what the ball is doing and creates that shot. Vaibhav is in the latter category.
He dominates bowlers. If I see that he can do something different to certain deliveries, then we will discuss it. But yeah, he is an unbelievable talent.” Another player that has excited Kotak is Naman Dhir , who is just nine matches into his international career.
After slamming 24 not out off six balls in the rain-hit final T20I against West Indies in Bengaluru on October 17, he smashed 42 not out in 15 balls in the first T20I against New Zealand to take India to victory in a chase of 226. “Actually, we know he is cable of doing and we also know that he is cable of bowling more than he has in first-class cricket or Vijay Hazare [List A] Trophy and all that,” Kotak said. “Yesterday, there was Sanju, Abhishek, and Shreyas [Iyer] and Axar [Patel] too, but his role at the end was also very, very important.
He is a power-packed player, he knows what is expected [of him] and he exactly does that, which is a great sign. “In a T20 match, if there are lots of left-hand batters in the opposition, an offspinner can even bowl four overs and, depending on the situation, he can bowl one or two overs too. He is someone who can field really well and can make an impact with the bat in that finisher’s role,” Kotak said about Dhir.
“It is too early, but I feel he is very promising. His batting technique, the way he builds his base quickly, the power he has, he is a very exciting talent.” India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing
