Correspondent, 21 October: The first T20 match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to be played on Thursday, October 22. Ahead of the series, Indian team captain Shreyas Iyer addressed a press conference where he discussed the squad's strategy against New Zealand and various other topics. During the interaction, he also provided a clear explanation regarding the possibility of young player Vaibhav Suryavanshi securing a spot in the playing XI.
Speaking to the media, Iyer clarified that Vaibhav will still have to wait for his chance to make it into the final 11. The captain stated that there is currently no room for him in the lineup, as openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma have been delivering consistently strong performances. Vaibhav was similarly unable to get an opportunity to play in the previous five-match series against the West Indies.
Acknowledging that Vaibhav is undoubtedly an excellent and talented player, Iyer pointed out that during the recent series against the West Indies, Samson hit two half-centuries while Abhishek scored one. The captain noted that both openers have been playing well consistently and have recently won the World Cup. Therefore, Iyer emphasized that it remains the responsibility of the other players in the squad to maintain Vaibhav's morale and keep him happy until he gets his opportunity.
The captain further explained that Vaibhav is still very young and has many years ahead of him to receive opportunities. For now, he is learning a great deal simply by spending time in the dressing room and participating in overseas tours with Team India. Iyer expressed confidence that the next time Vaibhav comes to play here, he will have developed a solid understanding of the local pitches. Although everyone expected Vaibhav to be seen playing regularly after he received a chance in the Asian Games, that scenario ultimately did not materialize.
