“BCCI Will Make an Exception”: Rayudu Dismisses Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Dressing Room Concerns Ahead of England Tour

Team India is set to play a 5-match T20I series followed by a 3-match ODI series against England, starting from July 1. The T20 series can prove to be the perfect experimental ground for the men in Blue, while the ODI series will be the first step towards the forthcoming ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, which is set to take place in South Africa next year, during October & November. Naturally, too many experiments were expected to take place (especially in the ODI setup) by the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI).

A glimpse of this came when the board announced the squad, with no place for the World Cup-winning captain, Suryakumar Yadav. Shreyas Iyer has been given the responsibility of the T20 setup. But the talk of the town for the series has been the young prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is coming fresh from a spectacular IPL season where he amassed over 700 runs at a remarkable average of 48.50 and a humongous strike rate of over 230.

Initially, the left-hander was speculated to make his debut in Ireland. But, as it turns out, BCCI has saved the best for the last. Sooryavanshi is speculated to make his debut in the England series. Ahead of Vaibhav’s debut, a particular report has come up in the English media, where Vaibhav is speculated to have a separate dressing room according to the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) age-related protocol. For a youngster who is still taking his humble steps in the cricket world, can such an ‘isolation’ be a little overwhelming for the leftie?

At a press conference, myKhel asked former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu about the Indian team’s nerves ahead of the England tour and their approach to the ODI World Cup.

‘It Won’t Make a Difference’: Rayudu Gives Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the Edge

On asking whether the protocol set by the ECB can adversely affect the mindset of Vaibhav, Rayudu was quick to dismiss it, saying that “they are just the ECB’s protocol more than BCCI’s doing of protecting the youngster.”

Rayudu further added that even though there are ‘protocols’ around the dressing room, these kinds of rules and regulations will not affect the mindset of the player at large. “But I don’t think it will make much of a difference. I am sure BCCI will try and make an exception to that case and try and get him into the dressing room,” he added.

Rayudu Wants Jaiswal in World Cup Squad, Insists RoKo Are Irreplaceable

There has been a lot of chatter going around ‘RoKo vs Next generation’, while a particular section believes that the RoKo (acronym for Rohit & Kohli) duet is ‘irreplaceable’, another section believes that both the cricketers need to cross the same litmus test, which is subjected to other cricketers of the country. Many eyeballs rolled out as well when Yashasvi Jaiswal was not given the due chance over Rohit Sharma despite scoring centuries in fewer innings than the hitman himself.

When asked about the matter, Ambati Rayudu believes Yashasvi Jaiswal deserves a place in India’s ODI World Cup squad but insists the experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain indispensable. “Jaiswal, in my opinion, should be a part of the World Cup team for sure,” Rayudu said.

He stressed that Rohit and Kohli cannot be replaced as long as they are fit, pointing to their ability to handle pressure in major tournaments. “Their experience is invaluable and their handling of pressure in critical situations is what you really need in a World Cup, especially when you are playing abroad,” he said.

Rayudu also praised Jaiswal’s temperament, saying the youngster offers more than just aggressive strokeplay. “You need that in-between game, and Jaiswal is a brilliant player in doing that.”

For Rayudu, Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli are “no-brainers” for the World Cup, adding that Rohit and Kohli “can really win us the World Cup going forward.”

‘Very Calm & Composed’- Ambati Rayudu On Iyer’s Captaincy

Ambati Rayudu heaped praise on Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, describing him as one of the most composed captains he has seen. “I think he has been a fantastic captain. Everybody is really impressed. I am extremely impressed with the way he has led sides,” Rayudu said.

Highlighting Iyer’s temperament, Rayudu added that the skipper’s calmness is his biggest strength. “He was very calm, very composed. He does not get too high or too low based on the wins or losses. That is a great way to be. That is exactly how you need your leader to be,” he explained.

On India’s recent defeat in Ireland, Rayudu urged fans not to overreact. He felt the batting unit was caught off guard by unfamiliar conditions rather than a lack of ability. “If you give them a week to prepare, I am sure the results would have been very, very different,” he said, concluding, “I wouldn’t read much into that loss at all.”