NEW DELHI: India gave 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi his much-awaited international debut in the second T20I against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday.Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first. The only change in the playing XI saw the substitution of Sooryavanshi Sanju Samson at the top of the range.
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 made just 1 in the opening T20I against England at Chester-le-Street.On his debut, Sooryavanshi became India’s youngest international cricketer at the age of 15 years and 99 days, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. Sachin made his international debut at 16 years and 205 days against Pakistan in 1989. Washington Sundar remains India’s youngest T20I debutant before Sooryavanshi, who debuted at 18 years and 80 days against Sri Lanka in 2017.Speaking in passing, Shreyas Iyer confirmed the change.“We will be first again. (Team changes?) One change, Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi) comes in for Sanju (Samson).”The Indian captain also supported the youngster and explained why the team management has full confidence in him.“(An amazing story. He’s about to become India’s youngest debutant. Is he ready?) Absolutely. You’ve seen him in the last two months, the way he’s been smashing the ball, getting the best of the bowlers, showing the huge confidence he’s got.”Iyer said that Sooryavanshi earned his place through consistent performances.“(Do you feel significant pressure to play him?) Not at all. I feel he absolutely deserves to be in the squad the way he has done over the last couple of months and year. He is a man of no pressure. The way you see him inside the dressing room, he has an unwavering attitude. And it’s great to have him. “Asked about handling the pressure that comes with playing for India, Iyer praised the youngster’s attitude.“(Is it part of your role as captain to help him deal with the extraordinary pressures that come with being a player for India?) I’m sure he knows what’s going to happen in these games. And as I mentioned, he has a calm demeanor. He has no pressure at all. And the way he hits the nets, the way he takes bowlers in the nets, literally shows what kind of character he is.”Iyer also highlighted the fierce competition for places in the Indian team.“(From the World Cup winning T20 side now, the captain is out and the player of the tournament is out of the team. Is that a reflection of the intense competition for the places you have?) Well, absolutely. You see the competition. It’s game after game like the amount of talent India has produced in the last couple of months and years. I think it is pleasing to the eye and it also keeps us especially on our toes as well as throughout the series. Because pressure is a privilege, I feel. And if you perform under pressure, you reap the benefits too.”England, meanwhile, made two changes to their playing XI, bringing back Jofra Archer and handing fast bowler Josh Tongue his T20I debut.The first T20I of the five-match series at Chester-le-Street ended in a draw after rain hampered England’s chase of 189/7 in India.