Former Indian opener Krishnamachari Shrikant expressed doubts regarding the team management under Gautam Gambhir. He believes that the constant exclusion of young batsman Vaibha Suryavanshi from the starting lineup could negatively affect his self-confidence.
Vaibha Suryavanshi, who is 15 years old, has attracted the attention of the cricket world due to his performances. He debuted internationally against England, won the series player title in Zimbabwe, and was part of the Indian team at the Asian Games. However, the current discussion is not about his play, but about the opportunities he is being given in the Indian team.
During the five-match T20 series against West Indies, Vaibha did not feature in the starting XI in any of the four matches. Previously, he was also on the bench during the T20 series against Afghanistan. Supporting this young batsman, Shrikant strongly criticized the team's management decisions, stating that India has completely undermined Vaibha Suryavanshi's confidence.
In Shrikant's opinion, the team management constantly makes changes instead of regularly giving players chances. This, according to him, affects the athletes' self-esteem. Citing Sandeep Samson as an example, he noted that the Indian team has damaged not only Sandeep but also Vaibha's confidence.
Previously, in a YouTube video, Shrikant stated: 'They (the team management) have not only ruined Sandeep Samson's confidence but have completely destroyed Vaibha Suryavanshi's confidence.' The former Indian opener questioned why Vaibha Suryavanshi was not getting regular playing time against the West Indies. He directly advised head coach Gautam Gambhir to rest Abhishek Sharma to give a chance to Vaibha and Sandeep Samson to start the match.
He added that Abhishek Sharma has already received enough opportunities and could be rested. In such a situation, Vaibha Suryavanshi and Sandeep Samson should have been given the opportunity to start the game.
The current situation surrounding Vaibha Suryavanshi is sparking debate, considering the impressive play he demonstrated in the previous T20 series. During his visit to Zimbabwe, he impressed with his aggressive style and received the series player award. After this, he was included in the Indian squad for the T20 series against Afghanistan, the Asian Games 2026, and the T20 series against the West Indies. However, excluding the Asian Games, he had to spend a long time on the bench.
Fans expect a lot from Vaibha, who began his international cricket career at the age of 15. His ability to hit powerful shots from the first delivery is the reason for constant demands for his inclusion in the Indian squad. Nevertheless, the long wait between selection and taking the field casts doubt on the current situation.
It is acknowledged that the decision to include a player in the starting XI depends on strategy, circumstances, and team composition. Despite this, Shrikant argues that talented young players who make it into the team must be given chances to showcase their potential.
Shrikant expressed dissatisfaction not only with the lack of chances for Vaibha but also raised questions about Sandeep Samson's game. He believes that the lack of consistency in Sandeep's game has been noticeable for a long time. Although Sandeep attracted attention by playing three brilliant innings at the 2026 T20 World Cup, subsequent series have not gone as well as expected. In Shrikant's view, Sandeep's game is often volatile: he either plays incredibly well or struggles for every run.
He observed: 'Sandeep's game has always been inconsistent. Questions about his consistency have always been raised. He suddenly plays brilliant innings, like in the World Cup, and then suddenly fails in many matches. Players like Abhishek Sharma do not show such sharp fluctuations in their game. Now Sandeep needs to score runs again in the next match.'
Shrikant's comments came at a time when discussions about spots in the Indian team's starting XI were intensifying. On one hand, Abhishek Sharma is receiving consistent opportunities, while on the other hand, despite the ups and downs in Sandeep Samson's game, Vaibha Suryavanshi cannot make the starting lineup.