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The India National Cricket Team is currently in New Zealand for a full tour, which has started with the five-match T20I series, as the first match was won by the Men in Blue after chasing 226 runs. However, despite the win, one question still remains: will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi get his chance in this series or not? India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has answered it.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been one of the best talents of the current batch of cricketers for India. The 15-year-old boy wonder has been exceptional and displayed his talent in the toughest T20 league in the world, the IPL. However, he has warmed the bench for the Men in Blue as India have gone with their World Cup-winning combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
While speaking to the media, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak answered the question that has been asked: why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not playing whenever there is a game for the Men in Blue. He stated that Vaibhav is still young, and the management is taking utmost care of him; he has been a favourite inside the dressing room.
"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 (as quoted by Cricinfo).
"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."
Sitanshu Kotak also revealed whether or not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will play the next game. He feels that there is a lot of hype around the boy wonder, which is not good for him and neither for the other cricketers.
"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'."
India has gone on to prefer Sanju, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan as their top three. Sitanshu Kotak believes that Vaibhav has grown up and knows that everyone is performing and they cannot be left out of the squad.
"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."