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‘It’s sad for the other openers’ - Sitanshu Kotak on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi selection debate

India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has addressed the selection discourse surrounding 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became the youngest player to debut for the national T20I side on July 4, 2026. Despite his record-breaking start, the teenager has appeared in only seven of the team's 19 matches, with management favoring established top-order players like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan.

Kotak noted that while the youngster is well-regarded, team selections cannot be dictated by public or social media sentiment. The coach expressed concern that the intense scrutiny creates an unfair environment for both the debutant and the experienced openers currently holding their spots.

With Ishan Kishan sidelined by a right adductor strain sustained during the series opener, Sooryavanshi is positioned to potentially feature in the upcoming second T20I against New Zealand.

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