Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Exclusion from the Playing XI in 1st T20I against Afghanistan Sparks Debate: Srikkanth, Akmal and Kaif Question India’s Call
Veteran Indian player Mohammad Kaif also questioned why the team management did not select Sooryavanshi, despite him being named Player of the Series against Zimbabwe, and asked what brought Samson back into the opening combination. Kaif questioned how “Sanju has done what in between that he got another opportunity?”, he said this while arguing that Sooryavanshi’s recent performances deserved greater consideration.
XtraTime Webdesk: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's non-selection has created quite a furore. This decision triggered a massive debate among former cricketers who wanted to see Sooryavanshi open the batting against Afghanistan in the 1st T20I.
Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth led a chorus of heavy criticism against the team management's selection choices, slamming the decision to bench teenage prodigy Sooryavanshi. Srikkanth expressed deep sympathy for the 15-year-old, arguing that the youngster had done more than enough to lock down a spot in the playing XI following his explosive, captivating performances in the previous series. He also took aim at the management’s overall handling of the rookie, warning that constant chopping and changing would only create unwanted anxiety for a rising star.
The criticism echoed across the border on the Game Plan podcast, where former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal similarly questioned the call to lock Sooryavanshi out of the lineup. Akmal argued that a bilateral series against Afghanistan was precisely the time to stress-test India's bench strength, expressing disbelief that the teenager was left out against this specific opposition.
Adding to the scrutiny, veteran Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif openly questioned the logic behind ignoring Sooryavanshi, especially after the youngster took home Player of the Series honours against Zimbabwe. Kaif targeted the decision to fast-track Sanju Samson right back into the opening slot, bluntly asking, "What has Sanju done in between that he got another opportunity?" He noted that dropped players usually have to go back to domestic cricket to grind out results, making Samson's immediate recall over an in-form Sooryavanshi baffling.
The management's gamble backfired early when Samson was dismissed for just 10 runs in the first T20I. The failure prompted cricket pundit Sanjay Manjrekar to observe that Samson "does not help his own cause" due to his chronic inconsistency. With Sooryavanshi waiting in the wings and breathing down the veteran's neck, the battle for India's top-order spots is set to dominate the talking points for the remainder of the series.
