Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel has called on the Indian team management to communicate transparently with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, stressing that the 15-year-old must not be kept in the dark about his standing in the squad during the ongoing T20I series against England. Speaking on 4 July, Parthiv backed Sooryavanshi to earn a debut at some point in the series but urged the coaching staff to handle the youngster with care.

Parthiv's Call for Clear Communication

Parthiv was emphatic that transparency from the coaching staff is non-negotiable when managing a player of Sooryavanshi's age. 'I feel Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get an opportunity at some point in this series. But at this stage, communication is extremely important. When you're part of the coaching staff, you have to make sure you communicate clearly with the players. Even if you're not going to play him, you have to tell him that,' Parthiv said.

He further added: 'He's a 15-year-old kid, so you need to be very careful with him and advise him to be patient. There are a lot of players who have also done really well. Sanju Samson was the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan, who is batting at three, is the ICC's No. 1-ranked T20I batter, while Abhishek Sharma is No. 2. At this point in time, there isn't a place for Vaibhav in the XI, and that needs to be communicated to him really well.'

Morkel Also Backs Patience, Defends Established Openers

Parthiv's remarks follow similar counsel from India bowling coach Morne Morkel, who had spoken a day earlier ahead of the second T20I in Manchester. Morkel reaffirmed the team's faith in openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, despite Samson enduring a lean run of scores — 5, 0, and 1 — across his last three innings on the UK tour.

'I think we need to respect the fact that we had our No. 1 batter in T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma. Sanju was the player of the World Cup. Samson had a great IPL. So, as a coaching staff, it's only fair to show trust and support for your players. Yes, a young man is knocking on the door, and that's exciting. But for not just those two players at the top, but for the entire group, it's good that we show our support,' Morkel said.

Why Sooryavanshi Cannot Simply Walk Into the XI

Morkel cautioned against reshuffling the batting order purely to accommodate a new face. 'In a day, it's about putting performances on the board. That is the key. But we also don't want to think too much and put other players in different positions. So, it's not as simple as just saying, "Let's play Sooryavanshi." It's about standing by some of the guys who have won World Cups, who have performed well in tough situations, and then building from there to strengthen our top order as much as possible in these conditions,' he explained.

Sooryavanshi's Remarkable IPL 2026 and the Wait for a Debut

Sooryavanshi arrived on the national radar after a stunning IPL 2026 campaign for Rajasthan Royals, amassing 776 runs at a strike-rate of 237.30 to claim the Player of the Tournament award. Despite the fanfare, he was unused throughout India's tour of Ireland, during which the side suffered a surprise 2-0 series defeat. His international debut remains keenly awaited, with the England T20I series offering the next realistic window.

This comes amid a broader debate within Indian cricket about how to balance loyalty to proven performers against the imperative to blood exciting young talent — a challenge that will only intensify as the next T20 World Cup cycle gathers pace.