NEW DELHI: India handed 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his much-awaited international debut in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday.India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first. The only change in the playing XI saw Sooryavanshi replace Sanju Samson at the top of the order.
Who did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi replace?
Samson made way after a lean run with the bat. He scored 5 and 0 in the two-match T20I series against Ireland and managed just 1 in the opening T20I against England at Chester-le-Street.With his debut, Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer at 15 years and 99 days, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. Sachin had made his international debut at 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in 1989. Washington Sundar remains India’s youngest T20I debutant before Sooryavanshi, having debuted at 18 years and 80 days against Sri Lanka in 2017.Speaking at the toss, Shreyas Iyer confirmed the change.“We are going to bat first again. (Team changes?) One change, Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) comes in for Sanju (Samson).”The India captain also backed the teenager and explained why the team management had full faith in him.“(An amazing story. He’s about to become India’s youngest debutant. Is he ready?) Absolutely. You’ve seen him in the last couple of months, the way he’s been smashing the ball, taking on the best of the bowlers, shows immense confidence that he possesses.”Iyer said Sooryavanshi had earned his place through consistent performances.“(Have you felt the significant pressure to play him?) Not really. I feel that he completely deserves to be in the squad the way he has performed in the last couple of months and years. He’s someone who doesn’t take pressure at all. The way you see him inside the dressing room, he’s got that unflinching nature. And so good to have him around.”Asked about handling the pressure that comes with playing for India, Iyer praised the youngster’s temperament.“(Is it part of your role as captain to help him deal with the unique pressures that come with being a player for India?) I’m sure he’s very well aware of what’s going to come in these matches. And as I mentioned, that he’s got a calm demeanour. He doesn’t take pressure at all. And the way he bats in the nets, the way he takes on the bowlers in the nets, literally shows that what sort of character he is.”Iyer also highlighted the intense competition for places in the Indian team.“(From the World Cup winning T20 side now, the captain has gone and the player of the tournament no longer in the team. Is that a reflection on the tremendous competition for places that you have?) Well, absolutely. You see the competition. It’s game after game like the amount of talent India produces over the last couple of months and years. I think it’s pleasing to the eye and also it keeps us especially on the toes as well throughout the series. Because pressure is a privilege, I feel. And if you perform under pressure, you reap the benefits as well.”England, meanwhile, made two changes to their playing XI, bringing back Jofra Archer and handing fast bowler Josh Tongue his T20I debut.The first T20I of the five-match series at Chester-le-Street had ended in a no-result after rain interrupted England’s chase of India’s 189/7.
