India's handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson in UK tour raises questions

By Rohan Gupta — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Debate over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s international debut

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the international debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, suggesting that the young player might have been introduced to international cricket prematurely. Sooryavanshi, at 15 years old, featured in the second T20I against England, marking the start of his international career. Across the three matches he played, the left-hander recorded scores of 14, 13, and 15 before being dropped for the fifth and final T20I.

Ashwin highlighted that overseas tours should serve as learning experiences for young players, allowing them to adapt to foreign conditions and the demands of international cricket gradually. He believes such assignments should provide time for emerging talents to develop rather than expecting immediate results.

Initially, Sooryavanshi was expected to debut in Ireland. However, the team management opted to continue with T20 World Cup-winning players Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. The growing demand for Sooryavanshi’s inclusion intensified, and after three performances by Samson, the management decided to drop him and give the left-hander an opportunity.

Ashwin expressed his belief in Sooryavanshi’s talent, stating, “I’m still telling you, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is an incredible player. If I were the selector, I would have also picked him. But let him take his time.” He likened the early international exposure to an “internship,” suggesting a more measured approach to his development.

Impact on player confidence

The recent United Kingdom tour, which saw India lose both contests against Ireland and England, has led to discussions about the team’s handling of both Sooryavanshi and Samson. The tour resulted in a 0-6 defeat for India, leading to the loss of their No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. The tour also saw new captain Shreyas Iyer become the first India skipper to go winless in his first seven T20Is.

Sooryavanshi arrived in the UK in strong form, following a successful IPL season and an India A tour of Sri Lanka. Despite high expectations, he spent the first three matches on the bench before making his debut. After playing three matches, he was then sidelined for the final T20I.

The team management has often spoken about “giving players a long rope,” but recent events suggest this period of patience can be short-lived. Samson, who was considered a long-term wicketkeeper option before the T20 World Cup, was dropped and later returned to the squad under pressure. He helped India secure a third T20 World Cup title with three significant innings.

The management’s decision to delay Sooryavanshi’s debut against Ireland, citing patience and timing, contrasts with the quick decisions made regarding both players during the UK tour. Samson’s patience lasted only three innings, and similarly, Sooryavanshi’s opportunity was limited to three innings.

Sooryavanshi scored 42 runs in his three innings and faced challenges against the short-ball tactics employed by Jofra Archer. Samson experienced a difficult tour statistically, making scores of 5 and 0 in Ireland and just one run in the opening T20I against England before being dropped. He was recalled for the final match, where he scored 27 runs from 14 balls in a chase of 258.

The situation has prompted questions about whether Sooryavanshi’s debut was rushed or if he was dropped too quickly after only three matches. If selectors believed he was ready for international cricket, three innings might not be sufficient for judgment. Conversely, if he still required development, his debut could have been postponed. The messaging from the team management has been described as unclear.

Ashwin also drew from his own experiences, recalling a time he missed an England tour despite being in good form, due to selectors prioritizing a different team combination. He emphasized that selection decisions should be based on cricketing needs rather than external or social media pressure. He stated, “If the outside noise is allowed to enter the team, whose fault is it?”

Sooryavanshi is part of India’s squad for the upcoming T20I assignment against Zimbabwe.