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Gujarat Titans coach Parthiv Patel has offered some insights to the India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir on the handling of the teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Parthiv Patel stated that communication becomes very important in managing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old faced constant snubs amid growing demand for his debut for the India National Cricket Team.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warms the bench for Team India
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's wait for an India debut has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket. The 15-year-old batter was included in India's squads for the Ireland and England T20I assignments but is yet to receive his maiden cap after being left out of both matches against Ireland and the first T20I against England.
The Rajasthan Royals opener enjoyed a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign, scoring 776 runs and finishing as the tournament's leading run-scorer. He also broke Chris Gayle's long-standing record for most sixes in a single IPL season with 72 maximums.
His performances did not stop with the IPL. Before joining the national side, Sooryavanshi continued his impressive run for India A, scoring 94 in the Tri-series final against Sri Lanka A while also registering knocks of 44, 38 and 21 in the Emerging Teams competition.
He had earlier struck 93, 96 and 97 during the IPL playoffs phase, showing remarkable consistency against quality opposition. Yet India's team management has preferred to back the core group that won the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
Captain Shreyas Iyer indicated after the England series opener that the team wanted continuity and faith in established performers.
You have to speak to him carefully - Parthiv Patel on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
In the Star Sports segment 'Game Plan,' Parthiv Patel said that Sooryavanshi would definitely get his senior India cap during the T20I series against England, but till that happens Gautam Gambhir-led coaching staff needs to be very careful with him.
Parthiv Patel also urged the Indian team management to teach the 15-year-old to be a little more patient.
He stated: “I feel that at some point in this series, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will definitely get an opportunity. But at this point in time, communication is something which is very important. You know, when you are part of a coaching staff, you have to make sure that you are giving away the right signals to a batter.
"Even if you are not going to make him play, you have to tell him that fact. He's a 15-year-old kid. You have to speak to him carefully. You have to teach him a little patience. Because when you are playing for India, when you are picked for India, there are a lot of other players as well who have done really well," he added.
At this point in time, there is no place - Parthiv Patel Parthiv Patel
The 41-year-old further pinpointed that India's current top 3 in T20Is is stacked with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan occupying spaces and leaving no room for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Also, Parthiv Patel provided his backing to India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, who slammed his first half-century as the skipper in the 1st T20I against England.
"Talking about Sanju Samson. You know, he was the Player of the Series in the World Cup. You have Ishan Kishan, who is batting at No. 3 and is the No. 1 ICC-ranked player. No. 2 is Abhishek Sharma. At this point in time, there is no place, and you have to communicate that really well to Vaibhav," he said.
“I think those who were raising the most questions would have felt the most relieved. As a player, Shreyas Iyer does not have to worry about anything. You know, he's a proven performer in this format at the international level," he added
