India Coach Breaks Silence Over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India Debut

Morne Morkel and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi [Source: AFP, BCCI.tv]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is yet to make his Team India debut after getting selected for the T20I tours of Ireland and England. Picked in the Indian national squad on a trail of a successful IPL 2026 season, the 15-year-old was ignored from the playing XI in both T20Is against Ireland in Belfast last week.

Moreover, the teenage prodigy also failed to find a place in the national side for the series-opening first T20I against England at Chester-le-Street a couple of days ago. As fans eagerly wait for Sooryavanshi to get his maiden international cap, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel just made a huge claim surrounding the youngster’s potential debut.

Morne Morkel says existing players backed over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

While speaking with the reporters in Manchester a day before India’s second T20I against England, bowling coach Morne Morkel was asked why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not been selected in the national playing XI yet. 

Morkel responded that while Sooryavanshi is an exciting talent knocking on the door, the team management is currently backing its existing top order, comprising of the likes of number one ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma and World Cup 2026 hero Sanju Samson.

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The former South African fast bowler further acknowledged that Samson also had a great IPL 2026 season for the CSK franchise, after winning the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award in India’s T20 World Cup win earlier this year. 

He said “Look, I don't think there's a lot of factors. We just need to also respect the fact that we've got the No. 1 batter, Abhishek Sharma. Sanju was the player of the World Cup. He had a great IPL. So, I think as a coaching staff, it's only fair to show faith and back your players.”

Morne Morkel added “Yes, there's a young man knocking on the door and it's exciting, but I reckon for not just those two players at the top, but for the rest of the group, it's a good sign that we show that we back you guys.”

BCCI defends coaching staff decision of delaying Sooryavanshi debut

Even though the Indian team management continues to draw flak from fans for delaying the much-awaited international debut of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla himself defended the coaching staff’s decision.

While speaking on Times Now, Shukla assured fans that the youngster will soon receive his debut cap, and the fact that he is in the team proves that the management rates him highly. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unlikely to debut in 2nd IND vs ENG T20I

If recent reports are to be believed, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might also not make his international debut in India’s upcoming second T20I of the five-match series against England. 

After enduring a rain-affected no-result at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street earlier this week, India and hosts England will now collide in the second match on Saturday, July 4 at Old Trafford in Manchester. As per the schedule, the action is slated to commence from 7:00 PM IST onwards. 

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