India's Opening Stars Stand Firm: Iyer Says Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has to Be Patient

India T20 captain Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will have to wait for a regular place in the playing XI, with established openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to deliver consistent performances.

With India preparing for a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Iyer stressed that Sooryavanshi's talent is not in question, but the youngster must be patient as the team's current opening combination has proved its worth.

"It's not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup," Iyer said on Wednesday, underlining the importance of maintaining a settled batting order.

Sooryavanshi, one of India's most exciting young batting prospects, has featured in eight of India's 21 T20 internationals since being selected for the England and Ireland tours earlier this year. However, Abhishek and Samson have retained their places through consistent performances, playing key roles in India's successful defence of their T20 World Cup title earlier this year.

Iyer also emphasised that keeping a young player comfortable within the dressing room was important for his development. He said Sooryavanshi had several years ahead of him to establish himself and would receive opportunities in due course.

"It's important that a talent like him should always be happy around the dressing room," the India captain said, adding that the teenager's exposure to international cricket and overseas conditions would prove valuable in the long run.

Sooryavanshi also got an opportunity to open the innings at the Asian Games, where Samson moved down to number three to accommodate the youngster.

Iyer believes the experience of playing on overseas pitches will help Sooryavanshi understand different playing conditions and prepare better for future assignments. The exposure could also allow him to share that knowledge with teammates who visit those conditions for the first time.

For now, India's consistent opening pair appears firmly in place, leaving Sooryavanshi to use his opportunities and international exposure as stepping stones towards a more prominent role in the national side.