Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in his new India jersey ahead of the T20I series against Ireland. Photo: BCCI
Sooryavanshi non-selection: Ashwin reacts; Manjrekar lauds team for ignoring ‘outside noise’
Ashwin said it was important for the left-handed batter to learn sitting outside the team
Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s much-awaited India debut has been delayed as he was not picked for the team’s first T20I against Ireland in Belfast on Friday (June 26).
In the build-up to the series, there was speculation that the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi would make his India senior debut after his exploits in the recently concluded IPL 2026.
India's shock defeat
However, the Indian team management stuck to the successful opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Abhishek was the top scorer for India with 49, but that did not prevent the team’s 34-run shock loss while chasing 183.
Also read: What captian Shreyas Iyer said on Sooryavanshi's non-selection
Speaking about the non-inclusion of Sooryavanshi, former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravichandran Ashwin backed the move.
"Please, everyone, think about the game with some wisdom. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened together, and Sanju batted very well in the World Cup. If you bench one of them to play Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, what is the point of calling this a team game?" Ashwin said on YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.
Comparisons with Tendulkar
Ashwin said it was important for the left-handed batter to learn sitting outside the team. He felt that once he starts playing, he may never be dropped, as it happened with batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
"I know we all want to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play. We are all fans, and he is a great entertainer. But not at any cost. There is value in sitting outside and watching the game too. Let him serve the team, help out, even bring water. There is a lot to learn from that experience.
“A great player doesn't become one overnight. Once Vaibhav starts playing, he might never be dropped it could happen, just as it did with Sachin Tendulkar. But if he spends some time outside the playing XI first, he will get empathy and a better understanding of the team environment. He has a long and illustrious career ahead of him. Sitting outside is also a role," Ashwin added.
Manjrekar lauded the team management and said “outside noise” should “remain outside”.
On his X (Formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Good call by India to not mess with their in-form openers, their T20 WC winning heroes. ‘Outside noise’ must remain just that…noise outside. While calmness & meritocracy presides in the dressing room (sic).”