Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin He has strongly defended young all-rounder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the criticism that came after he clashed with the Sri Lankan players during the final match of the third series in Dambulla.The incident happened after India’s defeat in the Super Over and quickly became a hot topic among fans and pundits. However, Ashwin he believes it has been overdone and warned against turning criticism into abuse of a young player who is still learning the demands of the international game.Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin asked why so many people were so quick to follow Sooryavanshi in one minute.“All we can do is speak hate. And what happens? If the person we hate ends up reading those things, it might affect them a little. But what do we gain by speaking like that? That’s why I’m saying this. How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?”Ashwin also pushed back against those who wanted more maturity from the youngster, reminding critics that age and experience should be taken into account before passing judgement.“Tell me, how can one hate him? And everyone is saying, ‘This child should have shown maturity. Have we forgotten that we were children once? Have we forgotten that there are such children in our families? This is very difficult,'” he added.The former spinner went on to explain the difference between constructive criticism and hate, arguing that the two are often confused in modern discussions of the game.“What is criticism? If today you are doing this show and I say to you, ‘Vimal bhai, I didn’t like hosting today. Maybe we can listen here. Maybe this question would have been asked differently. Maybe this point would have been handled differently.’ That is the objection. Criticism means finding a way for someone to move forward and improve. But what is hatred? Hatred is when someone has gained something, and we continue to attack him with words. We keep trying to bring them down. This does not happen,” said Ashwin.With Sooryavanshi expected to start for India in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, Ashwin urged supporters and critics to let the youngster develop without constant scrutiny.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a cricketer. He does it for us. He is very entertaining and very talented. Forget his family, well-wishers, fans and team management for a moment. As a fan of the game, I just want him to enjoy cricket and play without pressure. After playing cricket for many years, I have realized that playing freely, without possession, is one of the most difficult things to do. As long as we can give him that freedom, let him be happy. Whether they win or lose doesn’t matter. The way he plays is pretty cool. Let the child be happy,” said Ashwin.Ashwin’s support comes after Sooryavanshi’s incredible rise. Despite speculation that the opposition bowlers played his game before IPL 2026, the left-hander gave a surprising response. He scored 776 runs to claim the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest player in the tournament’s history to finish as the top scorer. In doing so, he won the fixed stars Virat KohliShubman Gill and KL Rahul.His actions left the country’s electorate with little room for opposition. Chairman Ajit Agarkar he later admitted that Sooryavanshi’s actions had forced the selection committee to include him in India’s T20I squads for the series against Ireland and England.The youngster picked up his form again in the Indian A setup, hitting a 94-match 94 against Sri Lanka A at the end of the tri-series, further strengthening his case ahead of what could be a world record.
