Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi warmed the bench during the recently held T20I series against Ireland, which India lost 0-2 in Belfast.
Even before the series got underway, the Indian team management had indicated that Sooryavanshi would have to wait for his turn, sticking with the established T20 World Cup winning opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.
However, the decision to leave Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI saw the management drawing flak from the fans, experts and quite a few former cricketers. The backlash intensified after the Men in Blue suffered whitewash in the series.
With India set to face England in a five-T20I series from Wednesday (July 1), former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested that there is no harm in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi biding his time on the bench as he is gaining experience by being with the squad.
During the Ireland series, Ashwin stated that the youngster would get crucial learning by serving water to teammates. This drew heavy online criticism from sections of fans who viewed it as degrading to a prodigal talent.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin slammed the online backlash, asking when carrying water for teammates became something to look down on.
“We need to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi time. The way he played in the IPL, obviously, you will have to play him at some point. He is that special. What I am saying is that carrying water is not degrading. Why do people think carrying water is a bad thing? When did the ethos of cricket change? In the 1990s and 2000s, I was a ballboy in Chennai, and I was so happy to carry water for the cricketers then," Ashwin stated.
“When did running into the field and giving a water bottle to Indian players become less?” he further added.
Earlier, Ashwin had emphasized that spending time on the sidelines and supporting the team from the dugout is a crucial learning phase that builds empathy, perspective, and a stronger understanding of the team culture.
“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," Ashwin had said in a video earlier after the first T20I against Ireland.
“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 gain 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,” he added.
At 15 years and over 90 days old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of shattering Sachin Tendulkar’s 36-year-old record to become the youngest debutant in men’s cricket for India. Tendulkar was 16 years and 205 days when he made his international debut against Pakistan in 1989.
Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up on the back of a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign where he finished as the Most Valuable Player and Orange Cap winner for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), hammering 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. Along the way, he dominated high-profile bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood.
If the wonder kid from Bihar features in the England T20I series, Sooryavanshi would become the youngest debutant ever for India across both men's and women's cricket. The record is currently held by Shafali Verma, whose maiden appearance for India came at the age of 15 years and 239 days.
