Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif predicted that an Indian player would be dropped in the near future to make way for young Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the playing XI. However, India are currently in Japan, preparing for their Asian Games 2026 cricket campaign. Mohammad Kaif predicted that Tilak Varma, who is also the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team, could make way for Suryavanshi. He also added that all-rounder Shivam Dube’s name, claiming that he was playing more as a batter than as an all-rounder who can bowl.

“I understand that Tilak is the vice-captain. But vice-captains have also been dropped before. I do not want to go there. Shivam Dube is not scoring in every game and still has to prove himself. Fielding is also his weakness, and he is not a proper bowling all-rounder. He is only playing as a batter. After six months, either Tilak or Dube will be out. You will have to remove one, and Suryavanshi will play. I am saying this right now,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.

“If you make a team according to the conditions in the Asian Games, Suryavanshi can fit in. You can leave Yash Thakur out. He still has to prove himself. A deserving player is not getting a chance in the XI, and we are playing someone like Yash, who has to prove himself. He is playing over Suryavanshi because he is a bowler. There will not be flat or batting-friendly pitches. If the wickets are slow, you can leave Yash out. Sundar, Bishnoi, and Axar can bowl 12 overs. Arshdeep will bowl four. Bumrah is also there,” he added again.

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However, Mohammad Kaif also applauded Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s approach and hunger. He added that the 15-year-old scored runs in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy, and he was also seen bowling in the tournament as well.

“Suryavanshi scored in the Duleep Trophy as well. He has improved his game. He was even bowling there. So he has understood that if he can bowl a few overs, he will have an advantage. It is a good thing. This is the hunger that he wants to make his place in the XI, and is seeing what he can do for it. I liked his mentality and approach. Looking at his overall development, you cannot keep him out for long,” he said.

“The way Sehwag used to bat, everyone thought he was only a white-ball player. But he had an average of 50 in Tests. His average was lower in white-ball cricket. If he played all formats, Vaibhav is just 15 right now. The sample size is very small. The debate over whether he can play all three formats right now is far-fetched,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.