Vaibhav Sooryavanshi dropped after 3 consecutive failures. India captain Shreyas Iyer said the decision to leave out the teenage opener from the fifth and final T20I against England was made purely to achieve better team balance. With the series already lost, India opted for experience by bringing Sanju Samson back into the playing XI for the decider at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Iyer explains dropping Vaibhav Sooryabhanshi

After winning the toss, Iyer chose to bowl first and confirmed two changes to the side. Sanju Samson returned to the XI in place of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while the team also made another tactical adjustment.

Explaining the decision, Iyer said, “I just want them to have a solid set of mindset where they just go in and try to get the best out of themselves, rather than sulking or being in that situation where you are a bit hurried out of the game. Give yourself some time, relax, take a breather. So just be in the moment and stop thinking about what’s happened or what’s going to happen. we’ve got two changes. Suryansh Shedge is in for Washington and Sanju Samson comes in for Sooryavanshi. I feel this is the time we need to try what’s best going forward for us as a team. So based on that, we decided this.”

The skipper added that Sooryavanshi has a bright future and remains an important part of India’s plans despite missing the final game.

Youngster backed despite difficult series

Sooryavanshi attracted widespread attention after becoming one of India’s youngest T20I debutants earlier in the series. The left-handed batter impressed with his fearless approach but found it difficult to convert starts into significant scores as England’s bowlers adapted to his attacking style.

The team management believes a short break from the spotlight will benefit the teenager and help him continue his development without unnecessary pressure.

Samson’s return provides India with experience at the top of the order and greater stability in the batting unit. Having played several international matches in English conditions, the wicketkeeper-batter is expected to add composure in a must-win encounter.

While Sooryavanshi misses out on the playing XI, the selectors and team management remain confident about his long-term prospects. The youngster is regarded as one of India’s most promising batting talents, and the omission is viewed as a tactical decision rather than a setback to his international career. India will now hope the experienced combination delivers a strong performance as they look to end the series on a winning note.