India’s assistant coach backs the teenage sensation but insists team management will not rush his international debut, urging patience despite his record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign.

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India’s highly-rated batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have set the cricketing world alight with a phenomenal IPL 2026 season, but the youngster will have to remain patient before earning his international debut. According to India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, the talented opener is fully prepared for international cricket but must wait for his opportunity like every other player in the squad.

Sooryavanshi forced his way into India’s T20I squad after an extraordinary IPL campaign, where he amassed 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. His breathtaking performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award and convinced the national selectors to fast-track him into the Indian setup. However, despite his impressive credentials, he has yet to feature in the playing XI during India’s surprising T20I series defeat against Ireland.

Speaking about the youngster’s future, ten Doeschate made it clear that India’s management remains committed to backing the current players. He pointed out that experienced opener Sanju Samson, despite registering golden ducks in both matches against Ireland, has earned the team’s trust through his consistent performances over time, including his significant contribution to India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year.

The assistant coach stressed that maintaining faith in established players is essential for building confidence within the squad. He explained that constantly replacing players after a couple of poor performances sends the wrong message and that the team wants to provide cricketers with an extended run before making changes.

While praising Sooryavanshi’s exceptional talent, ten Doeschate reiterated that the youngster’s opportunity will come naturally. He emphasized that there are no doubts about the teenager’s ability or readiness for international cricket, but he must follow the same selection process as everyone else and patiently wait for his chance.

India’s team selections so far also underline this approach. Even when injuries created openings in the squad—such as Hardik Pandya’s absence in the first T20I—the management opted for Washington Sundar and later handed a debut to Suryansh Shedge, rather than reshuffling the batting order to accommodate Sooryavanshi.

For now, Sooryavanshi remains a part of India’s T20I squad but has not been included in the ODI setup. The promising youngster has been selected for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, beginning on Wednesday, and is also expected to represent India at the Asian Games. With his remarkable form and immense potential, it appears to be only a matter of time before one of India’s brightest young stars finally receives his long-awaited international debut.