Drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from India squad? Aakash Chopra says it's heartbreaking but there is no other way

No room in the XI for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, says Aakash Chopra

Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces an uphill battle to break into India's T20I playing XI, with the team's established top-order options leaving little room for the 15-year-old to feature.

Sooryavanshi is part of India's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which begins on November 22. However, he was not given a single opportunity during the recently concluded home series against the West Indies, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

'A place isn't getting created for him'

Chopra said the teenager's absence from the playing XI is primarily a result of the lack of available slots rather than a question of his ability. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he was asked whether Sooryavanshi should replace Tilak Varma in the XI, given the latter's perceived inconsistency.

"Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn't getting chances because a place isn't getting created for him. In whose place should you play him? To be fair, he can play only in place of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, or Ishan Kishan."

"When three people are doing well, you can't get a chance suddenly. I know it is heartbreaking, but there is no other way. No one is agreeing with the method I am suggesting. You can do a rotation. Give chances to all four of them in rotation."

Chopra acknowledged that his suggestion of rotating the top-order batters has not found much support.

Ranji Trophy suggested if he stays on the bench

Chopra argued that keeping Sooryavanshi in the squad without any playing time through the series would serve little purpose. In that case, he believes the teenager should be released to play in the Ranji Trophy instead.

The youngster has made an encouraging start to his T20I career, scoring 246 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of over 186, including two half-centuries. Despite those numbers and his reputation for aggressive batting, he has yet to get a consistent opportunity, with the more experienced Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma preferred at the top of the order.

'Shooting arrows at Tilak Varma is not right'

Chopra also defended Tilak Varma, disagreeing with the suggestion that the Indian vice-captain has been underperforming and should make way for Sooryavanshi.

"If you say Tilak Varma doesn't perform at all, then what you are saying is slightly wrong. Tilak Varma struck two centuries when he played at No. 3. After that, he got injured and had a slight problem before the World Cup."

Pointing to Tilak's contributions in the middle and lower-middle order, Chopra said: "The World Cup didn't start well, but after that, ever since he became a finisher, he has done a good job, whether you see the performances in the Asian Games or now. The fact is that he has been doing really well in the middle order and the lower-middle order. So I feel shooting arrows at Tilak Varma is not right."