Former India captain criticises Shreyas Iyer, Gautam Gambhir over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s treatment
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has voiced strong criticism regarding the handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old player, during India’s recent T20I tours of Ireland and England. Srikkanth specifically targeted captain Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir, questioning their approach to nurturing young talent.
Sooryavanshi was initially part of the squad for the Ireland series but did not feature in any matches. He was later included in the playing XI against England after Sanju Samson experienced a period of low scores. However, after participating in three matches, the teenager was subsequently dropped for the fifth and final T20I, a decision that drew Srikkanth’s ire.
Concerns over player management
Srikkanth expressed his displeasure with Iyer’s explanation for the team change, which was given at the toss before the final match. Iyer had stated, “I feel this is the time we need to try what’s the best going forward for us as a team. So based on that, we decided this.” This remark did not sit well with Srikkanth, who later commented on his YouTube channel, “I was so upset with the interview after the toss.”
He further questioned the team’s overall strategy concerning young players, advocating for consistent standards across all members of the squad. Srikkanth argued that if players are dropped based on performance, the same criteria should apply to the leadership group, including Gambhir and the captain himself. He challenged Iyer’s performance, asking, “You are saying the players are not performing, what has been your performance?”
Sooryavanshi’s inclusion in the team followed Samson’s struggles, despite Samson being named the Player of the Tournament at the recent T20 World Cup. During his three appearances, Sooryavanshi recorded scores of 14 in Manchester, 13 in Nottingham, and 15 in Bristol before being left out of the final game.
Srikkanth highlighted the perceived injustice, asking, “What wrong did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do? Is this how you groom young players?”
Lessons from past experiences
The former India opener drew a parallel to his own captaincy experience, recalling the international debut of a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar during the 1989 tour of Pakistan. Srikkanth emphasised the importance of supporting young players to build their confidence. He recounted telling Tendulkar, “you won’t be dropped in this tour. You play fearlessly.”
Srikkanth suggested that the current leadership should have shown similar faith in Sooryavanshi instead of removing him after only three matches. He questioned whether Gambhir and Iyer should not have provided Sooryavanshi with that level of assurance. “It’s not fair. I am very upset with the way they are treating Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Srikkanth added.
Sooryavanshi had earned his place in the Indian squad after a notable performance in the IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he became the youngest-ever Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs. Despite his domestic success, his international debut saw him unable to make a significant impact, and he was dismissed twice by England pacer Jofra Archer during the series.
The decision to bring in Sooryavanshi and then drop him has been a point of contention, especially given India’s overall performance during the UK tour. The team lost both T20I series, falling 0-2 against Ireland and being swept 0-4 by England. The team management has faced scrutiny for frequently altering its opening combination, with Samson being dropped after three matches despite his recent award, and Sooryavanshi not receiving an extended opportunity after his debut.
Srikkanth’s comments underscore a broader concern about player development and team selection practices, particularly in the context of India’s disappointing tour results, which concluded with a 56-run defeat to England in Southampton.
Read Also
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
