Former India captain criticises Shreyas Iyer, Gautam Gambhir over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s treatment

By Arjun Nair / 14.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

Concerns over player management

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has voiced strong criticism regarding the handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old player, during the recent T20I tours of Ireland and England. Srikkanth specifically questioned the decisions made by captain Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir concerning the young batter’s inclusion and subsequent exclusion from the playing XI.

Sooryavanshi did not feature in the series against Ireland. He was later brought into the team for the series against England after Sanju Samson experienced a period of low scores. However, after playing in three matches, Sooryavanshi was dropped for the fifth and final T20I of the series, which India ultimately lost 0-4.

Iyer’s explanation draws criticism

Srikkanth expressed particular dissatisfaction with Iyer’s explanation for the team change, which was given at the toss before the final T20I. Iyer had stated, “I feel this is the time we need to try what’s the best going forward for us as a team. So based on that, we decided this.” This remark did not sit well with Srikkanth, who later commented on his YouTube channel that he was “so upset with the interview after the toss.”

Srikkanth questioned the overall approach of the team management towards young players, suggesting that the same performance standards should apply to everyone within the setup. He argued that if players are to be dropped based on their performance, then the same criteria should extend to Gambhir and the captain himself. “You are saying the players are not performing, what has been your performance?” Srikkanth asked.

The former India opener specifically highlighted Sooryavanshi’s situation, asking, “What wrong did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do? Is this how you groom young players?” He emphasised the importance of building confidence in young talent, contrasting the current situation with his own experience as captain.

Lessons from past experiences

Sooryavanshi was introduced into the squad after Sanju Samson, who had been named Player of the Tournament at this year’s T20 World Cup, failed to score significantly in three consecutive innings. The teenager’s scores in his three matches were 14 in Manchester, 13 in Nottingham, and 15 in Bristol, before he was left out of the final match.

Srikkanth drew a parallel to his own captaincy, recalling when he handed a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar his international debut during the 1989 tour of Pakistan. He recounted telling Tendulkar at the time, “you won’t be dropped in this tour. You play fearlessly.” Srikkanth believes that providing such backing is crucial for a young player’s confidence and development.

He argued that the current leadership, including Gambhir and Iyer, should have shown similar faith in Sooryavanshi instead of dropping him after only three appearances. Srikkanth expressed his strong disapproval, stating, “Should Gambhir and Shreyas not give Sooryavanshi that kind of confidence? It’s not fair. I am very upset with the way they are treating Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.”

The decision to bring in Sooryavanshi and then drop him has been a point of contention, especially given his recent success. Sooryavanshi earned his place in the Indian squad following a notable performance in the IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he became the youngest-ever Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs. Despite his domestic achievements, his international debut saw him unable to make a major impact, and he was dismissed twice by England pacer Jofra Archer during the series.

The controversy surrounding Sooryavanshi’s treatment has added to what has been described as a disappointing UK tour for India, which included losing 0-2 against Ireland and being swept 0-4 by England in the T20I series.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com