India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has called for patience with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, insisting the 16-year-old must still follow the team's established selection process despite his readiness for international cricket. The comments come in the wake of India's shock T20I series loss to Ireland, a result that has sparked questions about the squad's composition.
Ten Doeschate acknowledged that the team struggled with conditions across the series and that Ireland executed their plans more effectively. While Sooryavanshi has generated significant buzz as a prodigious talent, the coach made clear that no shortcuts would be taken in bringing him into the side.
The series defeat represents a rare blemish for India in T20I cricket, particularly against a non-Test-playing nation. It raises early questions about squad depth and adaptability on foreign tours, especially with a busy calendar ahead.
India's next T20I assignment is yet to be confirmed, but the management will be under pressure to regroup. Sooryavanshi's fans may have to wait longer for his debut, as the team prioritises process over immediate headlines.
"He is ready, but there is a process," Ten Doeschate said, reinforcing that selection decisions are not made lightly.
A counterargument exists that India's loss to Ireland, while surprising, is not unprecedented in T20 cricket and may not necessitate urgent changes to the selection pipeline. Some analysts might argue that rushing a teenager into international cricket could risk his long-term development.