‘He should have been corrected where he went wrong’: Shreyas Iyer backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of Zimbabwe series | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Captain India Shreyas Iyer threw his weight behind teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, expressing confidence that the youngster has learned from his tough introduction to international cricket and is ready to make a stronger impact.Speaking on the eve of the series opener in Harare, Iyer said he had no concerns about Sooryavanshi’s ability to bounce back after the 15-year-old endured a challenging tour of England.The teenager, who became India’s youngest international cricketer during the England series, made only a small comeback before being dropped in the fifth game as Sanju Samson returned to playing XI.Despite the setback, Iyer believes the youngster used the break productively.“All the youngsters, I think, they are really practicing. There was a decent gap after the T20 series. So he (Sooryavanshi) corrected where he went wrong. So personally, there is no need to give much advice,” Iyer said.
Iyer encouraged fearless cricket
India head into the Zimbabwe series looking to bounce back from a disappointing white-ball tour of Ireland and England under Iyer’s captaincy.The captain urged his young squad to play with freedom rather than worry about criticism or fear of failure.“I think they should not be afraid of failure because if you have such thoughts in the back of your mind, then you play to save yourself. If you don’t have that fear, you can bring out the best in yourself,” said Iyer.With India traveling directly from England and having just one practice session ahead of the opening match, Iyer acknowledged the challenge but backed his side to adapt quickly.Reflecting on his own comeback from injury, the 31-year-old said overcoming setbacks made him mentally stronger.“It makes me more confident as an individual. When you overcome the injury phase, mentally it makes you very positive. Whatever challenges you face on the field, you know how quickly you can overcome them,” he said.
Sooryavanshi is ready to move on
Sooryavanshi, on the other hand, admits that the past four months have been an emotional rollercoaster but insists that her confidence remains intact.“Yes, there have been a lot of ups and downs in the last four months; it’s part of cricket that it will continue to happen but I have to follow the process and give my 100 per cent for the team,” said the youngster. bc.tv.His absence in the final T20I against England sparked criticism of the team’s management, with many former cricketers questioning the decision to drop the teenager after just three innings.However, Sooryavanshi said the support from the coaching staff helped him regain his focus.“It was a clear thing that whatever I wanted (guidance etc.), the coaches made it available and whatever practice I needed I got that. It feels really good, there’s confidence too,” he said.The Zimbabwe tour also carries a special meaning for the youngster. It was at the same venue in Harare that he starred in India’s triumphant Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year, smashing a remarkable 175 off just 80 balls against England in the final.“It’s a very memorable ground for me. Just four months ago, we played in the U-19 World Cup Final and won, so it’s a very special ground,” he said.Confident of the knowledge he gained during the tournament, Sooryavanshi said he hopes to use his familiarity with the conditions if selected for the opening T20I.“I back my practice which I have done so far and try back my game… whatever contribution I can make for the team I will try to give that,” he said.
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