Online Sports Desk
India’s starboy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, is currently waiting for his opportunity in the playing XI in the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
The 15-year-old made his debut in an away series against England in July, 2026, but since returning to India, he has struggled to find a spot in the playing XI, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson being preferred as the first-choice openers.
During the 2026 Asian Games, when VVS Laxman was in charge of the T20I side while Gautam Gambhir was busy with the ODI series against the West Indies at home, India pushed Samson down the batting order, giving Vaibhav a chance to open alongside Abhishek.
Just when the southpaw appeared set to continue in the role in the next T20I series, which turned out to be against the West Indies, India decided to make another change.
Samson was back on top and featured in the first three T20Is, while Sooryavanshi was once again left on the bench.
In a recent interaction, Sooryavanshi’s childhood coach, Manish Ojha, criticised the Gautam Gambhir-led team management for its handling of the teenager.
“According to me, Vaibhav is like a storm. Whoever tries to take him on will eventually break, if not today, then tomorrow,” Manish Ojha told Sports Now.
“This current Indian team management feels that they make players by keeping them on the bench. There are many other legends of cricket; you talk to them, and everyone will say that if we have to prepare the next generation of players, they must be put into those situations; they must be made to play. Sitting on the bench, no player has ever been made, nor will they be. And especially if such talent is kept on the bench,” he added.
Ojha further criticised the team management’s decisions, describing its approach as “dictatorship”.
“Then either they have made up their mind that this kid will not be given a chance… keep him out and frustrate him so much. He is sitting outside and serving water. I feel that the management that is here right now is practising a kind of dictatorship where whatever comes to mind, they will do.”
