India bowling coach Morne Morkel has said the team will not rush 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into the playing XI despite his impressive integration into the squad. Ahead of the second T20I against England in Manchester, he backed senior batters Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, stressing the importance of backing experienced performers while managing young talent carefully.

Manchester: India bowling coach Morne Morkel has praised teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's seamless integration into the senior setup but insisted the management will not rush the 15-year-old into the playing XI, reaffirming its faith in established openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma ahead of the second T20I against England in Manchester.

With Samson experiencing a tough time on the ongoing UK tour—scoring 5, 0, and 1 in his last three innings—and Sooryavanshi waiting for his chance, Morkel said the coaching staff remained committed to supporting players who have consistently performed for India.

"I think we need to respect the fact that we had our No.1 batter in T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma. Sanju was the player of the World Cup," Morkel explained. "Samson had a great IPL. So, as a coaching staff, it’s only fair to show trust and support for your players. Yes, a young man is knocking on the door, and that’s exciting.

"But for not just those two players at the top, but for the entire group, it’s good that we show our support."