NEW DELHI: India handed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his long-awaited international debut in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday.India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bat first. The only change in the playing XI saw Sooryavanshi replaced Saint Samson at the top of the order.
Who replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?
Samson made way after a lean run with the bat. He scored 5 and 0 in the two-match T20I series against Ireland and managed just 1 in the opening T20I against England at Chester-le-Street.With his debut, Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer at 15 years and 99 days, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. Sachin had made his international debut at 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in 1989. Washington Sundar remains India’s youngest T20I debutant ahead of Sooryavanshi, having made his debut at 18 years and 80 days against Sri Lanka in 2017.Speaking at the toss, Shreyas Iyer confirmed the change.“We have to bat first again. (Team change?) One change, Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) comes in for Sanju (Samson).”The India captain also backed the teenager and explained why the team management had full faith in him.“(An amazing story. He is about to become the youngest debutant in India. Is he ready?) Absolutely. You have seen him in the last months, the way he has been smashing the ball, taking the best of the bowlers, it shows an immense confidence that he possesses.”Iyer said Sooryavanshi had earned his place through consistent performances.“(Did you feel significant pressure to play him?) Not really. I feel that he fully deserves to be in the team the way he has done in the last months and years. He is someone who does not take pressure at all. The way you see him in the dressing room, he has an infallible nature. And so nice to have him around.”Asked about handling the pressure that comes with playing for India, Iyer praised the youngster’s temperament.“(Is it part of your role as captain to help you deal with the unique pressures that come with being a player for India?) I’m sure he’s very aware of what’s coming in these matches. And like I said, he has a calm demeanor. It doesn’t take pressure at all. And the way he bats in the nets, the way he takes bowlers in the nets, it literally shows what kind of character he is.”Iyer also highlighted the intense competition for places in the Indian team.“(On the World Cup-winning T20 side now, the captain is gone and the player of the tournament is no longer in the team. Is that a reflection on the tremendous competition for places you have?) Well, absolutely. See the competition. It is game after game like the amount of talent that India is producing in the last few months and years. I think it’s pleasing to the eye and also mostly keeps us on our toes throughout the series as well. Because pressure is a privilege, I feel. And if you perform under pressure, you will also reap the benefits.”England, meanwhile, made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in Jofra Archer and handing fast bowler Josh Tongue his T20I debut.The first T20I of the five-match series at Chester-le-Street had ended without a result after rain interrupted England’s chase of India’s 189/7.