Former India captain criticises Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s treatment

By Sanjay Menon — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has voiced strong criticism regarding the handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the recent T20I tours of Ireland and England. Srikkanth expressed his displeasure with the team management, particularly captain Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir, following Sooryavanshi’s limited opportunities and subsequent exclusion from the playing XI.

Sooryavanshi, a 15-year-old player, did not participate in any matches during the Ireland series. He was later included in the playing XI for the series against England after Sanju Samson struggled to score runs. However, after playing in three matches, Sooryavanshi was dropped again for the fifth and final T20I of the series, which India ultimately lost 0-4.

Concerns over player treatment

Srikkanth was particularly upset with Iyer’s explanation for the team change, which was given at the toss before the final T20I. Iyer had stated, “I feel this is the time we need to try what’s the best going forward for us as a team. So based on that, we decided this.” This remark did not sit well with Srikkanth, who questioned the team’s approach to young players.

On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth commented, “I was so upset with the interview after the toss.” He further elaborated on his concerns about how players are treated and how a young team is being formed. Srikkanth suggested that if dropping players based on performance is the standard, then the same criteria should apply to everyone in the leadership group, including Gambhir and Iyer themselves.

Srikkanth questioned what Sooryavanshi had done wrong, asking, “What wrong did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi do? Is this how you groom young players?” He highlighted the importance of backing young talent and building their confidence, drawing a comparison to his own experience as captain.

Sooryavanshi was brought into the side after Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament at this year’s T20 World Cup, failed to perform in three consecutive innings. During his three appearances, Sooryavanshi recorded scores of 14 in Manchester, 13 in Nottingham, and 15 in Bristol before being left out of the final match. England pacer Jofra Archer dismissed him twice during the series.

Srikkanth questioned the rationale behind bringing in Sooryavanshi only to drop him after a few games, suggesting it could negatively impact his future and confidence. He argued that if Samson was considered the best fit, he should have continued playing. Sooryavanshi had earned his place in the Indian squad after a successful IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals, where he became the youngest Orange Cap winner after scoring 776 runs.

Lessons from past experiences

The former India opener compared the situation to his own captaincy experience when he gave a 16-year-old Sachin Tendulkar his international debut during the 1989 tour of Pakistan. Srikkanth recalled telling Tendulkar at the time, “you won’t be dropped in this tour. You play fearlessly.” He believes that showing such faith in a young player is crucial for their development and confidence.

Srikkanth expressed his disappointment that the current leadership, including Gambhir and Iyer, did not extend the same kind of confidence to Sooryavanshi, especially after just three matches. He reiterated his strong feelings, stating, “It’s not fair. I am very upset with the way they are treating Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.”

The controversy surrounding Sooryavanshi’s treatment has added to the scrutiny of India’s disappointing UK tour, where they lost both T20I series, first 0-2 against Ireland and then 0-4 against England. The team management has faced criticism for frequently changing its opening combination and for not providing extended opportunities to players like Sooryavanshi after their international debuts.

The decision to drop Samson after three matches, despite his recent Player of the Tournament accolade, and then to bring him back for the final game while dropping Sooryavanshi, has been a point of contention. India suffered a 56-run defeat in the fifth T20I against England in Southampton, where England posted a total of 257, with captain Jos Buttler scoring 131. Samson, upon his return, made a quick 14-ball 27 but could not secure a match-winning contribution.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com