Wasim Jaffer suggests India rushed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi due to hype
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has stated that the Indian team management may have rushed teenage batting talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into international cricket, suggesting the decision was influenced by public excitement rather than cricketing rationale. These comments followed India’s decision to recall Sanju Samson for the fifth and final T20I against England, which meant dropping the young opener after he recorded scores of 14, 13, and 15 in his three appearances.
Samson had initially played in the series but was subsequently left out from the second match onwards to make way for Sooryavanshi before returning for the series’ conclusion. Jaffer expressed his view on his YouTube channel, stating that India should have continued with Sanju Samson, and that the media hype surrounding Sooryavanshi contributed to his premature inclusion.
Jaffer indicated that Sooryavanshi would have benefited from more time within the national setup before making his debut. He suggested that the young player, being very young, could learn significantly just by being around the team and observing the game from the sidelines. Jaffer also questioned the frequent changes at the top of India’s batting order, implying that the management seemed to be reacting to the increasing public demand for the teenager to play.
He added that it felt as though the team was influenced by media hype, noting that there was considerable discussion whenever Vaibhav was not playing. Jaffer believed that Sooryavanshi should have been made to wait for his opportunity. He further commented that if there was a firm conviction that Sanju was not performing well, then the decision to drop him would be understandable, but ultimately, it appeared that Vaibhav was rushed into the team.
Adding to the selection concerns, Jaffer expressed surprise regarding the handling of Samson, who was omitted from India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, while Sooryavanshi retained his place. Jaffer found it puzzling that after giving Sooryavanshi three matches, Samson was brought back for one game and then left out of the Zimbabwe tour. He emphasised that Samson, who plays only one format for India, should be given consistent opportunities, especially as he is considered a match-winner and likely part of plans for the next World Cup.
Criticism from Former Captain
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth also criticised Shreyas Iyer and the team management for their treatment of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the recent tour of the United Kingdom. Srikkanth specifically took issue with Iyer’s explanation for dropping the 15-year-old for the final T20I against England in Southampton. Srikkanth expressed his disappointment with Iyer’s remarks at the toss, where India suffered a 56-run defeat, resulting in a 4-0 series sweep by England.
Srikkanth particularly objected to Iyer’s justification for replacing the Bihar left-hander, who recently became India’s youngest-ever international debutant at 15 years and 99 days old, with a returning Sanju Samson. Iyer had stated at the toss that the team needed to try what was best for the future. This decision did not yield positive results, as India’s bowlers conceded 257 runs, with England captain Jos Buttler scoring 131. In response, Samson, who had been dropped earlier in the series, scored 27 runs off 14 balls but could not convert his start into a substantial contribution during the chase.
Srikkanth voiced his strong disapproval of Iyer’s interview after the toss, questioning the manner in which players were being treated and how a young team was being formed. He argued that if performance was the criterion for dropping players, the same standard should apply to others, including the captain. He asked what wrong Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had done and if this was the appropriate way to groom young players.
Sooryavanshi was fast-tracked into the national side after a successful IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals, where he became the youngest Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs. After sitting out the initial matches, he made his debut in Manchester and played three games in the series. Despite showing glimpses of his talent, he struggled to replicate his domestic form, scoring 14, 13, and 15, and was dismissed twice by England paceman Jofra Archer.
Srikkanth defended the young player, drawing a comparison to his own tenure as India captain in 1989 when he gave a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar his international debut during a challenging tour of Pakistan. Srikkanth recalled telling Tendulkar that he would not be dropped during that tour and encouraged him to play fearlessly. He questioned whether Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer should not instill similar confidence in Sooryavanshi, expressing his displeasure with how the young player was being handled.
Differing Views on Sooryavanshi’s Future
While Jaffer advocated for patience with Sooryavanshi, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed considerable confidence in the teenager’s long-term prospects. Speaking to JioHotstar, Yuvraj likened the progression of India’s fearless batters to the Terminator film series, describing Sooryavanshi as the latest and most advanced iteration, following himself and Abhishek Sharma.
Yuvraj stated that he considers himself a Terminator, and that Abhishek Sharma is like Terminator 4, being four times better. He then referred to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as Terminator 6, indicating an even greater evolution. The World Cup-winning all-rounder also mentioned his desire to mentor the youngster in the future, believing that Sooryavanshi possesses the potential for a long and successful international career despite his initial challenges.
The selection controversies contributed to a disappointing UK tour for India, who returned without a single victory after losing 0-2 in Ireland and suffering a 0-4 whitewash in England. The team management has faced criticism for constantly shuffling players at the top of the batting order. Samson, despite being named Player of the Tournament at the recent T20 World Cup, was dropped after just three matches, while Sooryavanshi was not given an extended run after his high-profile debut at Old Trafford.
Further adding to the selection confusion, Samson has been completely omitted from the upcoming three-match T20I tour of Zimbabwe, with Prabhsimran Singh selected as the reserve wicketkeeper. While the core batting lineup largely remains unchanged, with Sooryavanshi retaining his place in the squad, the inconsistent handling of Samson has raised concerns about the lack of structural consistency within the current leadership group.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
