Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a bold statement on head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s tough start to his international career. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up after a dream IPL 2026 season, but his debut did not go the way many expected, and Kaif blamed Gambhir and Iyer for the same.
The former Indian batter has bluntly accused the Indian team management of not helping the 15-year-old batting sensation settle into international cricket during his debut series in England. Amid this, Sai Sudharsan injury up Batter's return date revealed ahead of SL Tests.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was picked for India's T20I series in Ireland and England after his remarkable IPL 2026 campaign with the Rajasthan Royals. Many expected him to make his international debut in Ireland.
But India continued with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as the opening pair. Samson struggled on the Ireland tour and was dropped after three matches—first in England before being recalled for the final T20I. India replaced Sanju with Sooryavanshi.
However, making his debut in English conditions was never going to be easy. The young left-hander failed to make big impact in his first three innings and was then left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final T20I.
Mohammad Kaif says Team India made Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut more difficult
Mohammad Kaif feels Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have been much more confident if he had played in Ireland first. He believes that starting against a comparatively easier opponent would have helped the 15-year-old teenager to get used to international cricket before facing England's fierce bowling attack.
Kaif said on his YouTube channel: “Vaibhav is an X-factor player. He made a reputation for himself. His bat did the talking in the IPL despite him being in the spotlight. He didn't just perform in one or two matches. He won the Orange Cap. He should have played in Ireland; the nervousness would have gone in that case. He would have reached England and performed well.”
The former India batter also feels that a player coming into the team after such a successful IPL deserved support, but Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer let him down.
The cricket pundit further explained, “He was having a rich vein of form behind him; he had won the Orange Cap. But you told him you serve water first. He's a special player; you could have played him directly in Ireland. He should have gotten special treatment. If he played in Ireland, he would not have had any nervousness in the UK.”
"You shouldn't have dropped him": Kaif slams Indian team management after Vaibhav's stunning comeback
Kaif also said that one poor series should not decide a young player's future. He believes Vaibhav has the talent to score plenty of runs, especially when he gets the chance to play in Indian conditions. Amid this, Ex-India wicketkeeper questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's East Zone vice-captaincy.
He also highlighted Sooryavanshi's performance in the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. The teenager answered his critics with the bat, scoring 151 runs in three matches, including a superb 81. His brilliant performances helped him win the Player of the Series award.
Kaif signed off by saying, “Sooryavanshi's India journey was tough; it could have been made easier. It was made tough for him. He's a special talent; you shouldn't have dropped him. You should have played him in Ireland. Now see, against Zimbabwe, he won the Player of the Series award.”
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