India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has the “natural abilities” to make his mark in international cricket if selected for Friday’s T20I against Ireland in Belfast (13:30 BST).
Should Sooryavanshi make his debut on Friday or in Sunday’s second T20, he will break the world record as the youngest international, currently held by Sachin Tendulkar, who played a one-day international against Pakistan in 1989, aged 16.
Kotak has “no doubt” about the talent possessed by Sooryavanshi who top-scored in the Indian Premier League this season, hitting 776 runs in 16 innings for the Rajasthan Royals, while setting a new an all-time record 65 sixes in a single season.
“He is very talented, there is no doubt,” Kotak said at Thursday’s news conference.
“In the way he has batted in the IPL and other games, there is no need to say he has the natural abilities.
“In the IPL, he has faced Jofra [Archer] and many other quick bowlers, and it seems nothing is bothering him.”
While there is great anticipation Sooryavanshi will get his opportunity at Stormont Cricket Club, Kotak insists his selection is far from a given.
“He is an extraordinary talent but the captain and head coach will decide the team,” Kotak continued.
“If he doesn’t play, that’s great too as he is part of the India team and I’m sure he will get his opportunities.
“Dropping someone who has been scoring runs also wouldn’t be right, so it’s up to the team management to decide what we plan to do in this match.
“There’s a fine line between giving someone an opportunity and being unfair to some other player.”
