Shreyas Iyer backs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to wait for chance after India's 2-2 West Indies T20I series draw

Patience the message for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

India captain Shreyas Iyer has backed young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to remain patient and keep working on his game, despite the teenager not getting a single game in the five-match T20I series against the West Indies. The series ended 2-2 after the rain-hit fifth match in Bengaluru was abandoned.

Sooryavanshi did not play in any of the five matches. His last appearance for India came in the Asian Games final against Pakistan. In eight T20Is, the youngster has scored 246 runs at a strike rate of over 186, including two half-centuries.

India continued to rely on experienced openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma throughout the series. Samson scored 168 runs in five matches, while Abhishek added 145 runs. Both registered two half-centuries, making it difficult for Sooryavanshi to break into the playing eleven.

Iyer urges trust in the process

Speaking after the fifth T20I, Iyer said he has been encouraging Sooryavanshi to trust his preparation and stay relaxed rather than worrying about missing out on opportunities.

"I just keep telling him, you will get your opportunities. If you are consistent with your process, mindset a bit light and not think too much about not getting an opportunity... you have to wait sometimes. We have two fantastic openers who've been consistent throughout," the skipper said.

Bowling lapses cost India

Iyer said India could have achieved a different series scoreline had the bowlers performed better in the second and fourth matches, when they conceded more than 240 runs. Despite the bowling struggles, he praised the batting unit.

"Could have been a different [series scoreline] if we had bowled well in the 2nd and 4th game. Batting has been sensational, execution we fell short. Credit where due, they batted phenomenally well. Kudos to Shai Hope; he was superb. The ability to bounce back even after a loss [among the big plusses]. We were not able to be consistent throughout, so great learning," Iyer said. "Gonna be a challenging series in New Zealand now."

Hope named Player of the Series

West Indies captain Shai Hope was named Player of the Series after scoring 261 runs in four innings, including two centuries and a half-century, at a strike rate above 190.

In the rain-shortened fifth match, India scored an entertaining total after being asked to bat first. Ishan Kishan smashed 30 runs off just 10 balls, while Naman Dhir remained unbeaten on 24 from six deliveries. West Indies bowlers Shamar Springer and Keemo Paul picked up two wickets each.