India are gearing up to face Ireland in the first match of the three-match T20I series scheduled to be held on Friday in Belfast. More than the match, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's name is generating the most curiosity because the young kid has earned his maiden call-up to the senior squad following impressive performances in the IPL, and he could be on the verge of a dream debut. But it remains unclear whether he will get the chance in the playing XI or not. 

India's biggest concern remains at the top of the batting order, where competition is extremely fierce. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan have been in splendid forms and are all capable of opening the innings, having already proven themselves in the shortest format. More importantly, Abhishek and Samson were part of India's T20 World Cup-winning squad, playing brilliant roles. Meanwhile, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak lauded Sooryavanshi's immense talent but also highlighted that team selection is based on both current form and performances for India.

"He (Vaibhav) is very talented, there is no doubt. And the way he has batted in the IPL and all the other games, there is no need to tell that he has got a lot of natural abilities. In the IPL, he has faced Jofra (Archer) and a lot of quick, experienced bowlers, and it seems that nothing is bothering him. So he is obviously an extraordinary talent," Kotak said at the press conference.

"Today evening, the captain and head coach will decide about the team. And if he plays, great. If he doesn't play, that is also great for me because he is part of the Indian team. And I am sure that he will get his dues and his opportunities. So I don't think that just to give him an opportunity, we should drop someone who has already been scoring runs. That also won't be right. Obviously it depends on the team management," Kotak said.

Kotak further stressed that Sooryavanshi should enjoy his time in the senior setup. Notably, Sooryavanshi, representing Rajasthan Royals, was the standout performer at the IPL 2026, capping off the season as the top-scorer with 776 runs.

"The boys who come through the BCCI system playing U19, India A or Emerging tournaments, they more or less understand the culture of the Indian team. So it's not as though a lot is different for him. But what we told him was for him to enjoy. If he wants to ask or share something, he should," Kotak said.

"Gautam was also telling him the same thing, 'you just feel like you are playing for your own team and just say whatever you feel.' Otherwise, batting-wise, he is very good. His level of adjustment and intent is pretty good," he said.