India T20I: India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer believes young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the temperament and ability to make a significant impact in Indian cricket, but said the teenager’s immediate development should not be reduced to conversations about his performances on the field.
Speaking ahead of India’s five-match T20I series against the West Indies, Iyer said he has deliberately tried to build a personal connection with the youngster by speaking to him about life away from cricket.
Sooryavanshi remains part of India’s squad as the side begins its preparations for the next T20 World Cup, but Iyer indicated that there is no need to rush the youngster into a bigger role. The captain pointed to the presence of India’s established World Cup-winning openers while stressing that Sooryavanshi’s opportunity will arrive in due course.
"I keep interacting with Vaibhav in terms of what he does outside the field, because everyone talks to him about cricket, and we know how talented and gifted as an individual he is. So, just to talk about his lifestyle outside, that interaction, knowing about his family, what he does, what not, excites him more because he’s more of himself when he talks about it.
"And a very silent guy, but on the field, is very destructive. So, that’s like an irony when you look at him. He’s a very charming, sweet guy to interact with and good to have him around the dressing room. And I know that his time will come, because we have been playing with World Cup-winning openers right now, and they deserve the time out there, and he’s still in the 15. So definitely, when his time comes, he is going to dominate Indian cricket,” Iyer told JioStar.
"I keep interacting with Vaibhav in terms of what he does outside the field, because everyone talks to him about cricket, and we know how talented and gifted as an individual he is. So, just to talk about his lifestyle outside, that interaction, knowing about his family, what he does, what not, excites him more because he’s more of himself when he talks about it.
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Article Source: IANS