Former India captain Kris Srikkanth criticised head coach Gautam Gambhir for benching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after three subpar performances in England during the five-match T20I series. The 15-year-old batter’s incredible 18-ball half-century helped India defeat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in the first Twenty20 International at Harare. At the age of 15 years and 118 days, Sooryavanshi made a T20I record by becoming the youngest player in men’s international cricket to reach fifty.
The young youngster had scored 14, 13, and 15 in his first three Twenty20 Internationals against England before being eliminated. Gambhir benched him in favour of Sanju Samson for the fifth and final Twenty20 International. The decision to fire Sooryavanshi after just three games raised serious concerns about the team’s approach to helping emerging talent overcome early setbacks.
“His range of shots is smooth, but not a single one was cross-batted. This guy is truly unique. After three failures to undermine his confidence, how could Gautam Gambhir have so carelessly dropped him? On his YouTube account, Srikkanth stated.
What aspect of Sooryavanshi’s work ethic most impressed Srikkanth?
Srikkanth praised Sooryavanshi’s perseverance and commitment. The former opener was equally pleased by Sooryavanshi’s audacious plan after three consecutive defeats. With a strike rate of over 260, the left-handed opener smashed four sixes and four boundaries in the 18-ball knock.
“I applaud Vaibhav’s tenacity. After the series against England, he immediately joined the Rajasthan Royals camp rather than returning home. To prove to the world that he is unique, he is putting a lot of effort into his batting against the short ball, Srikkanth remarked.
Instead of playing cautiously after early difficulties, Srikkanth emphasised that Sooryavanshi attacked from the first delivery and refused to control his aggressive inclinations. India chased down Zimbabwe’s goal of 126 with more than six overs remaining. The teenager’s redemption in Zimbabwe sets the stage for his subsequent games in the series as India attempts to gather momentum going forward.
