Former India captain and ex-chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has strongly criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir for dropping teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after just three low scores during India’s T20I series against England. Srikkanth described the decision as “foolish,” arguing that it dented the youngster’s confidence before his stunning comeback in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe, where the 15-year-old smashed a record-breaking 18-ball half-century.
Sooryavanshi managed scores of 14, 13, and 15 in his first three T20I innings during India’s disappointing 4-0 series defeat in England. He was then left out of the fifth T20I, with experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson returning to the playing XI. However, the youngster earned another opportunity in the Zimbabwe series opener and grabbed it sensationally, blasting 50 off just 19 balls.
His fearless innings not only guided India to a comfortable victory but also made him the youngest player in men’s T20I history to score a half-century, ending India’s seven-match winless streak in the format. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth questioned the logic behind Gambhir’s selection call, claiming the youngster deserved a longer run despite his early failures.
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“He has an effortless range of shots, and not one of them was cross-batted. This boy is truly special. I don’t understand how Gautam Gambhir could drop him after just three failures. That decision only crushed his confidence,” Kris Srikkanth said.
With Gambhir unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour, former India batter VVS Laxman has taken charge of the side, and Sooryavanshi has flourished under the current setup. Srikkanth was equally impressed by the teenager’s fearless mindset, highlighting that many young players become overly cautious after a string of failures. Instead, Sooryavanshi continued to trust his natural attacking game.
“Scoring at a strike rate above 250 looks effortless for him. Most youngsters would have tried to protect their place by taking singles after three failures, but Vaibhav kept playing his shots without worrying about the consequences. For him, an 18-ball fifty almost looks routine. That’s what makes him extraordinary,” he added.
The former India opener also revealed that Sooryavanshi spent the gap between the England and Zimbabwe tours working tirelessly on one of the biggest weaknesses exposed during his debut series.
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“I salute Vaibhav’s dedication. Instead of going home after the England series, he headed straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp. He has been working hard against the short ball because he wants to prove to the cricketing world that he belongs at this level,” Kris Srikkanth revealed.
Although questions remain about Sooryavanshi’s ability to consistently handle genuine express pace, particularly against bowlers like Jofra Archer, his explosive innings against Zimbabwe served as another reminder of why he is regarded as one of India’s brightest young talents and a potential future superstar.
