Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has said that team management rushed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into international cricket, arguing that public excitement rather than cricketing logic drove the decision.
Jaffer’s comments came after India recalled Sanju Samson for the fifth and final T20I against England, dropping the 15-year-old opener following scores of 14, 13 and 15 in three matches. Samson began the series but sat out from the second game onward to make room for Sooryavanshi before returning for the finale.
“I think we rushed Vaibhav’s inclusion,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel. “There was a lot of media hype around him, and the public was very emotional about seeing him play. Otherwise, I had already said that India should have continued with Sanju Samson.”
The former opener believes Sooryavanshi would have gained more from spending time around the national setup before his debut.
“Vaibhav had to wait for his opportunity, and when that opportunity came, he could have taken it. He’s still very young, and he can learn a lot just by being around the team and watching cricket from the outside,” Jaffer said.
Jaffer also questioned the constant reshuffling at the top of India’s order, suggesting the management reacted to the growing noise around the teenager rather than sticking to a clear plan.
“It felt like we got carried away by the media hype. Every time Vaibhav didn’t play, there was a lot of discussion about it,” he said. “I just thought he should have been made to wait. If you were absolutely convinced that Sanju wasn’t in good form or wasn’t playing well, then you could have taken that decision. But eventually, it felt like you rushed Vaibhav into the team.”
Samson’s treatment left Jaffer equally puzzled. The wicketkeeper batter was dropped from India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, while Sooryavanshi kept his place despite his modest run in the England series.
“Then, after giving him three matches, you brought Sanju back. Sanju himself played only one match, and now he’s been left out of the Zimbabwe tour. Dropping him from the Zimbabwe tour also seemed a bit strange to me because I’m sure he would have wanted to play,” Jaffer said.
“As it is, he only plays one format for India. He should be given regular opportunities. I’m sure Sanju Samson will be part of the plans for the next World Cup because he’s a match-winner. The way things unfolded really surprised me,” he added.
While Jaffer called for patience, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh backed Sooryavanshi’s long-term prospects. Speaking to JioHotstar, Yuvraj compared India’s line of fearless batters to the Terminator film franchise, placing Sooryavanshi as the latest version after himself and his protégé Abhishek Sharma.
“I always call myself a Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more,” Yuvraj said.
Yuvraj added that he would love to mentor the youngster going forward, saying that he believes Sooryavanshi can build a long and successful international career despite the difficult start.
