A curious contrast exists between how Indian cricket presents Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to the world and how it actually uses him. Broadcasters have increasingly made the 15-year-old the face of their promotional campaigns, putting him alongside, and sometimes ahead of, some of the biggest names in Indian cricket. There is good reason for the excitement. Sooryavanshi could well be the next big thing in Indian cricket, having captured attention with his fearless batting and ability to take on some of the world's best bowlers. Yet, despite all the attention, India's handling of him remains difficult to understand.

Since making his international debut during the England tour in July, Sooryavanshi has played only 10 of India's 22 T20Is, scoring 295 runs at a strike rate of 185.53, with two half-centuries. For a batter whose primary role is to attack at the top of the order, those are hardly disappointing returns.

Also Read: Rapid hands, split-second reactions: What makes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a batting tornado

His latest omission has brought the uncertainty surrounding his role back into focus. Sooryavanshi was left out of the fourth T20I against New Zealand, just days after scoring 45 off 19 balls in Wellington and helping India register the highest powerplay score in men's T20I cricket. India had already sealed the series 3-0. With one game remaining, it seemed an ideal opportunity to give him another run. Instead, fit-again Ishan Kishan returned to the XI.

There is a straightforward explanation. Sooryavanshi had come into the side after Kishan suffered an injury in the series opener. With the wicketkeeper-batter available again, India restored their original combination. But if Sooryavanshi was good enough to have an impact when given a chance, why not allow him another chance? Surely, another outing would have been more valuable than another spell on the sidelines.

The comments from the team management have made the situation even more intriguing. Ahead of the New Zealand series, "He is very young; he has more years to get opportunities. It's not like he can walk in right now, because our openers are scoring consistently, and they have won the World Cup."

Gautam Gambhir had offered a similar explanationearlier, stressing that India could not suddenly abandon the combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson that had worked, adding that they wanted to create security in the dressing room.

There is merit in protecting players who have delivered for India. While Abhishek is a sure-shot, Samson, in particular, has a reasonable case on form and numbers. Since Sooryavanshi's debut, he has played 16 T20Is at a strike rate of 173.20. More importantly, he played three vital knocks during India's World Cup-winning campaign. But the World Cup argument becomes less convincing when applied selectively. Suryakumar Yadav captained India to the T20 World Cup title, yet lost his role and place in the very next series.If winning a World Cup guarantees an extended run, why does that security not apply equally to everyone?

That leaves Sooryavanshi in an awkward position. India may believe that exposing him to overseas conditions and keeping him around the international dressing room is more beneficial than sending him back to domestic cricket. That is a reasonable argument, particularly as he eventually got a go in New Zealand and made the most of it. Then why explicitly say he is unlikely to play, thereby denting his confidence?

The inconsistency in selections becomes more apparent when viewed alongside other team decisions. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 36, returned to the T20I side after nearly four years following an excellent IPL season, in which he picked up 28 wickets. He played three matches against New Zealand, conceding 139 runs in 12 overs and taking one wicket, before being dropped for the fourth. His performances were not particularly impressive, but if India believed his experience could be valuable in the build-up to the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Olympics, were three matches really enough to assess him? If not, what was the purpose of bringing him back?

Away from the T20I side, Auqib Nabi's situation offers another example. Having risen to fame for his , Nabi picked up six wickets in the first four-day match against New Zealand A, but has not retained his place for the second unofficial Test. Earlier, he had been dropped after his debut ODI, where he conceded 84 runs in a match where over 800 runs were scored. There are understandable reasons behind individual decisions, but it is difficult to see what a player is expected to do when even a promising performance does not guarantee another appearance.

Auqib Nabi was India A’s best bowler in the first match but has now been dropped from the squad, and mind you, not added to the ODI squad for the first three ODIs either, as per the official presser. What exactly are they trying to do to him? It’s like toying with a player’s confidence! Can’t get worse. #NZvsIND

— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) October 30, 2026

There is a wider pattern here. Sarfaraz Khan has struggled to find a place in India's Test plansdespite his domestic record, without an obvious long-term replacement demanding his spot. Yashasvi Jaiswal, meanwhile, continues to miss out in India's white-ball sides despite having the numbers and ability to make a case for himself, with established combinations taking precedence in ODIs. None of these situations is identical, and every player faces different competition for a place, particularly in a team as deep as India. Together, however, they raise questions about how India identify, reward and invest in talent.

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India do not have to accommodate Sooryavanshi in every XI, nor should star players be discarded to make room for him. But if they believe he is not ready to displace their regular openers, what exactly is the purpose of keeping him in the squad, promoting his potential and repeatedly speaking about his future while making it clear that opportunities are unlikely to come his way?

In the end, it is not whether Sooryavanshi deserves an automatic place in the XI. It is whether India have a coherent plan for a talent they have been so keen to showcase.

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