Former Indian batsmen Wasim Jaffer believes the Indian team management kicked young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of international cricket, saying the decision was more influenced by public interest than cricketing sentiments.Jaffer’s words came as India remembered Sanju Samson for the fifth and final T20I against England, dropping the 15-year-old opener after scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his three matches. Samson had started the series but was dropped from the second game onwards to take on Sooryavanshi before returning to the final game.“I think we rushed the inclusion of Vaibhav,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel. “There was a lot of talk around him, and people were very excited to see him play. Otherwise, I said earlier that India would have continued with Sanju Samson.”The former opener felt that Sooryavanshi would have benefited from spending more time in establishing the country before making his debut.“Vaibhav had to wait for his chance, and when that chance came, he could have taken it. He is still very young, and he can learn a lot by being around the team and watching cricket from outside,” Jaffer said.
‘We’re fed up with the hype’
Jaffer questioned India’s constant change at the front of the order, saying management seemed to have reacted to the growing buzz around the youngster.“It seemed like we got caught up in the media. Every time Vaibhav didn’t play, there was a lot of talk about it,” he said.“I just thought he should have waited. If you were sure that Sanju was not well or was not playing well, then you would have made a decision. But in the end, it was like you rushed Vaibhav into the team,” he added.Jaffer also expressed surprise at how Samson was dropped from India’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I against Zimbabwe, while Sooryavanshi retained his place.“So, when you gave him three matches, you brought Sanju back. Sanju himself played only one match, and now he was left out of the Zimbabwe tour. Taking him out of the Zimbabwe tour also surprised me because I’m sure he would have wanted to play,” Jaffer said.“As it is, he only plays one team for India. He should be given a chance to settle down. I believe that Sanju Samson will be part of the schedule for the next World Cup because he is a match winner. The way things turned out surprised me,” he added.
Yuvraj supports young people
While Jaffer urged patience, the former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed great confidence in the long-term future of Sooryavanshi.Speaking to JioHotstar, Yuvraj compared the evolution of India’s fearless batsmen to the Terminator film franchise, describing Sooryavanshi as the latest and greatest version of his protégé. Abhishek Sharma.“I always call myself Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after that comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has changed a lot,” said Yuvraj.The World Cup winner added that he would love to mentor the youngster in the future, believing that Sooryavanshi has the chance to enjoy a long and successful international career despite his early struggles.
