Harare: Gautam Gambhir criticised over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s dropping
Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticised Gautam Gambhir regarding the handling of young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Srikkanth’s comments came after Sooryavanshi’s performance in India‘s first T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare, where he achieved a significant milestone.
Sooryavanshi made his international debut in the T20I series against England, where he recorded scores of 14, 13, and 15 in his first three appearances. Following these initial outings, he was not included in the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I of the series. This exclusion occurred amidst discussions about India’s selection choices.
Sooryavanshi’s return to form
In the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi delivered a notable performance, scoring his maiden T20I half-century. He reached this milestone in 18 balls in Harare, becoming the youngest player to achieve a maiden T20I half-century. His innings contributed to India’s seven-wicket victory, chasing a target of 126 runs with 40 balls remaining.
Srikkanth expressed his bewilderment at the decision to drop Sooryavanshi after only three failures. He questioned Gambhir’s judgment, stating, “How did Gautam Gambhir foolishly drop him, of all people, after three failures to crush his confidence?” These remarks were made on Srikkanth’s YouTube channel, ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
Gambhir is not with the team for the Zimbabwe tour. Instead, former India batter VVS Laxman is serving as the interim head coach for the three-match series. Srikkanth highlighted Sooryavanshi’s dedication, noting that after the England series, the young player went directly to the Rajasthan Royals camp instead of returning home.
According to Srikkanth, Sooryavanshi has been focusing on improving his batting against short-pitched deliveries. Srikkanth praised the batter’s commitment, saying, “I salute Vaibhav for his dedication. After the England series, he didn’t go home and instead went straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp. He has been working on his batting against the short ball because he wants to prove to the whole world that he is special.”
Selection dilemmas and fearless approach
The former India captain was particularly impressed by Sooryavanshi’s fearless approach, even after a string of low scores. Srikkanth observed that many young players might adopt a more cautious style after initial setbacks to secure their place in the team. However, Sooryavanshi maintained his attacking game.
Srikkanth commented on the ease with which Sooryavanshi scores at a high strike rate, describing it as extraordinary. He noted, “The ease at which he scores at a 250 strike rate is extraordinary. Normally, after three failures, other players would have tried to safeguard their place in the Indian team by taking singles and twos. But he played fearlessly without worrying about the consequences.”
Sooryavanshi’s innings in Harare, where he scored 50 runs off 19 balls, included four fours and four sixes. This performance not only secured his place in the record books as the youngest batter to score a half-century in international cricket but also reinforced his reputation as a promising young talent for India.
The discussion around Sooryavanshi’s selection also brought attention to broader team combination questions and selection dilemmas that India continues to face. Earlier in the England series, Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign, was dropped from the side to make way for Sooryavanshi. However, for the fifth match of that series, Samson was reinstated, and Sooryavanshi was left out. Samson was subsequently omitted from India’s squad for the Zimbabwe tour.
Srikkanth’s remarks underscore the ongoing scrutiny of selection decisions within the Indian cricket setup, particularly concerning young players and their development on the international stage. Sooryavanshi’s recent performance in Harare provided an emphatic answer after a challenging start to his senior international career.
The 1983 World Cup winner also highlighted that scoring a 50 off 18 balls has become “child’s play” for Sooryavanshi, which he considers a testament to his greatness.
Sooryavanshi’s explosive innings in Harare not only earned him a place in the record books but also strengthened his case as one of India’s most exciting young batting talents. Srikkanth’s comments also highlighted the selection dilemmas and team combination questions India continue to face.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Priya Menon 