Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s place in India’s T20I playing XI has become a major talking point, with fans eager to see the teenage batting sensation get more opportunities at the international level. However, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has stressed that selection decisions must be based on team requirements and performances rather than public pressure. The 15-year-old made his T20I debut on July 4, 2026, at 15 years and 99 days, becoming India’s youngest international player in the format and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing age record.

Since then, Sooryavanshi has featured in only seven of India’s 19 T20I matches, with Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan preferred at the top of the order. Ahead of the second T20I against New Zealand, Kotak addressed the debate surrounding the youngster’s limited opportunities. With Ishan Kishan suffering a right adductor strain in the series opener, Sooryavanshi could have an opportunity to feature in the next match.

Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged the support Sooryavanshi has received from the team management and fans. However, he made it clear that popularity alone cannot determine a player’s place in the playing XI. “He is really young, but the way everyone in the team management takes care of him – I keep an eye neutrally – and everyone likes him, social media likes him, team also likes him. But you can’t make changes to the XI because people like him,” Kotak was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

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The batting coach also expressed concern that the constant debate over Sooryavanshi’s selection could put unnecessary pressure on the teenager. He noted that the discussion also overlooks the performances of established openers who have been delivering for India.

“I felt that at the start, there was a lot of hype that ‘he has to play’. I genuinely felt that wasn’t good for the player also. Just a 15-16-year-old boy, and everyone saying ‘he should play’ and ‘he isn’t being picked’ and so on,” Sitanshu Kotak said. “He is too young. It’s something I can’t control but it’s sad. And it’s sad for the other openers also, who are performing but people are saying ‘why is he playing,” he added.

According to Kotak, Sooryavanshi has become more mature since joining the Indian setup and understands the competition for places. The youngster recognises that players such as Samson and Abhishek cannot be left out when they are performing well. “Now he is much more mature. He understood that Sanju is playing well, or Abhishek is playing well – how can they be left out,” Kotak said.

The coach has focused on helping Sooryavanshi improve his shot selection, particularly when facing deliveries that move in the air or off the pitch. However, he does not want to interfere unnecessarily with the teenager’s natural attacking instincts.

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“What I have normally spoken to him about is discussing what shots to play when the ball moves around and things like that. But I won’t tinker with his intent or the way he approaches the game unless there is a major reason for doing so,” he concluded.

With India managing a demanding international schedule, Sooryavanshi’s development remains an important consideration. The challenge will be to provide him with opportunities at the right time while maintaining a balance between nurturing young talent and rewarding consistent performances.