Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel feels young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should be ready for more short-pitched bowling as his international career progresses. The teenager, who impressed during IPL 2026, has struggled to make the same impact against England, scoring 14 and 13 in the last two T20Is. England’s bowlers have consistently targeted him with short deliveries, a tactic Patel believes will continue. According to Patel, England’s approach is not surprising because teams had already identified this strategy during the IPL. Speaking to JioHotstar, he said, “Not just Jofra Archer, I think anyone who watched the IPL would not be surprised that there is a deliberate plan to bowl short to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. It wasn’t just the wicket ball; the ball before it was short as well. In the first game, on the delivery he hit for six, it may not have bounced as much, but the line was the same.”Patel believes every team will keep testing the youngster with pace and bounce.“As Vaibhav Sooryavanshi progresses in his international career, he will continue to face this kind of bowling, with deliveries that are short and above 145 km/hr. So, the question will definitely be how he copes against short-pitched bowling, because every bowler will look to target him there,” he added.Patel also urged India’s batters to show more patience after being bowled out for just 78 in the third T20I. He said the players should take time to settle instead of attacking from the start, especially in English conditions where pitches and ground dimensions are different.“I would like to see a better understanding of the game and a bit more game awareness from the Indian batters in Bristol. Yes, there are 200 runs on the board, but these are all experienced T20 batters and, in this format, you have a bit more time than you think,” he said.“You can afford to take one or two overs to get your eye in. The conditions are different, the wickets aren’t as flat, and you have to get used to the ground dimensions and the pace of the wicket. So, it’s very important to give yourself some time,” Patel added.India will now look to recover in the fourth T20I, while England will aim to wrap up the series with another victory.
