CRITICISM of India’s team management has reached a fever pitch following the opening T20I against Afghanistan, as legendary former captain and chief selector Kris Srikkanth launched a scathing assessment of the current handling of two of the country’s most promising talents: 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the perennially scrutinized Sanju Samson.
The controversy centers on the starting XI selection for the series opener, where team management opted to pair Sanju Samson with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, effectively benching Sooryavanshi. For Srikkanth, the decision was not merely a tactical blunder; it was a systemic failure in player development that risks damaging the confidence of two cricketers who are currently caught in a cycle of selection uncertainty.
A Stunning Omission for the Rising Star
The exclusion of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is particularly jarring given the teenager’s meteoric rise over the last few months. As recently as the T20I series against Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi was the undisputed standout performer, earning the Player of the Series award after amassing 151 runs at a breathtaking strike rate of 196.10.
To see such a high-performing youngster sidelined immediately following a dominant series has sparked outrage among pundits and fans alike. Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that the confusion surrounding the selection was widespread, even extending into his own household.
“Yesterday, because Sooryavanshi didn’t play, we started watching a movie,” Srikkanth remarked. “My wife was shouting that Sooryavanshi didn’t play and started arguing that someone who was the Player of the Match in the last match isn’t playing. Even my wife is questioning his exclusion. You are not treating Sooryavanshi properly.”
The concern, as Srikkanth points out, is not just about one game. It is about the psychological impact of erratic selection. By dropping a player who has performed at an elite level, the management is inadvertently planting seeds of doubt in a young mind. “Now, if he plays the next match, he’ll wonder whether he’ll be dropped if he doesn’t score,” Srikkanth warned. The former selector underscored that for a talent who has already proved his mettle in the domestic circuit and with the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, India should be prioritizing consistent exposure over rotation.
The “Pity” of the Samson Saga
While Sooryavanshi is dealing with the instability of being a newcomer, Sanju Samson is facing the frustrations of a veteran campaigner who cannot seem to find a permanent home in the side. Samson’s inclusion for the Afghanistan opener is just the latest chapter in a long-standing saga of hit-and-miss opportunities.
Samson began the UK tour in July as a key fixture, only to be supplanted by the surging Sooryavanshi after just three matches. Following a brief return for the seventh and final game of that tour, Samson was subsequently rested for the Zimbabwe series, only to be thrust back into the firing line against Afghanistan.
Srikkanth did not mince words when describing the treatment of the talented wicketkeeper-batter. “This team management is playing around with Sanju Samson. I pity Samson,” he stated.
The core of the issue, according to the former selector, is that the current approach serves neither player. By shuffling them in and out of the starting lineup, the management is preventing both men from settling into a rhythm. “Either you give him [Samson] an extended run and then drop him, or give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a run of matches without dropping him,” Srikkanth argued. “The mistake India are making is that both are getting two matches here and there. That’s not good for the player.”
The Cost of Uncertainty
The broader narrative behind Srikkanth’s critique is the lack of a defined, long-term vision. Frequent changes at the top of the order breed anxiety. When players are forced to play for their spots every single game—knowing that one failure could lead to an immediate exit from the XI—they are less likely to play with the freedom and flair that define the modern T20 game.
Sooryavanshi, fresh off a demanding appearance in the Duleep Trophy, had little time to readjust to the white-ball format before being told he wasn’t needed for the series opener. Such transitions require support and a guaranteed cushion of games, not the threat of a return to the sidelines.
As India continues its preparation for future ICC events, the management is under immense pressure to finalize a core group. Whether they heed Srikkanth’s advice to provide consistent backing to their young stars or continue with the current rotation policy remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the current climate of apprehension is doing little to cultivate the next generation of Indian cricket royalty. For now, the “Samson-Sooryavanshi” debate serves as a stark reminder that in the high-stakes world of international cricket, selection is about far more than just runs and strike rates—it is about the management of confidence and the cultivation of stability.
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