Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has backed young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play without fear in the ongoing T20I series against England, saying the teenager has far less to lose than the bowlers trying to dismiss him. Sooryavanshi was handed his international debut after replacing Sanju Samson ahead of the second T20I, and although the 15-year-old has not yet produced a big score, Nayar believes the pressure is still firmly on the opposition.
Sooryavanshi has managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three outings, but Nayar feels that is not unusual for a youngster taking his first steps in international cricket. Speaking on JioStar’s Googlies, he explained that young batters often arrive with freedom because expectations are still low, while seasoned bowlers carry the burden of reputation and shouldering the bigger risk.
“You always feel that there’s Jasprit Bumrah, there’s Jofra Archer, experienced bowlers, but the pressure is actually on them because a young kid has nothing to lose. Even if he gets out first ball to Bumrah, no one is going to question him. But as a bowler, when you know there’s a player who won’t shy away from hitting a six off the very first ball, there’s always more fear for the person who has more to lose,” Abhishek Nayar said.
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He added that established bowlers often think about how a single aggressive shot could affect their image, while a young player can express himself freely without carrying that baggage. According to Nayar, that sense of freedom becomes a huge advantage early in a player’s international career. Over time, however, as the performances grow and the spotlight intensifies, the same freedom can slowly give way to expectation and pressure.
“The bigger names are the ones thinking, ‘Oh, he hit me for a six. His stock will rise and mine will fall. And if I get him out, people will just say he’s a kid.’ That’s why a young player comes in with complete freedom. But the more he plays, the more he makes a name for himself, the higher the expectations become, and the more difficult it is to sustain that level of performance,” he said.
Nayar also turned his attention to Shreyas Iyer, who is still searching for his first win as India’s T20I captain. India has lost five of the six matches played under his leadership, with one game washed out, but Nayar remains confident that the right-hander can succeed in the role. He pointed to Iyer’s record as a leader in domestic cricket and the IPL, where he has repeatedly guided younger sides with notable success.
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In Nayar’s view, Iyer’s strength lies in getting the best out of teams that are not always packed with superstars. He compared that with captaincy in already-settled squads, arguing that Iyer’s achievements have come in tougher environments where results are harder to extract. That, Nayar believes, is what makes his leadership stand out.
India is currently 0-3 down in the five-match series against England with one game left to play. The fifth and final T20I will be held at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Saturday, July 11.
