Former India Assistant Coach Abhishek Nayar Urges Shreyas Iyer to Give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a Chance

Dateline: October 13, 2026

Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has urged India’s T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir to give teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity in the ongoing T20I series against the West Indies.

Nayar Wants Sooryavanshi to Play the Final T20I

With India leading the five-match series 2–1, Nayar has suggested that the team should aim to secure the series in the fourth match. This would allow the management to give Sooryavanshi an opportunity in the final game without compromising the series result.

Speaking on Star Sports, Nayar expressed his desire to see the young opener included in the playing XI for the last T20I.

Sooryavanshi Yet to Make His Mark in the Series

Despite attracting considerable attention for his batting performances, Sooryavanshi has not yet featured in the playing XI during the current series. India have continued to rely on established top-order options, including Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.

The teenager’s omission has sparked debate among fans and cricket observers, particularly given the excitement surrounding his potential at the international level.

India Focus on Securing the Series

Nayar’s suggestion places the immediate focus on winning the fourth T20I and taking an unassailable 3–1 lead. Such a result would give the team management greater flexibility to experiment with its combination in the final match.

Whether Sooryavanshi gets his long-awaited opportunity will depend on the team management’s selection decisions and the outcome of the next game.