‘How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?’: Ashwin blasts critics after Dambulla controversy

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly defended teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following criticism that surfaced following the youngster’s altercation with Sri Lankan players during the tri-series final in Dambulla.The incident took place after India’s Super Over defeat and quickly became a major point of discussion among fans and pundits. But Ashwin believes the reaction has been overblown and warned against turning the criticism into personal attacks on a young cricketer who is still learning the demands of the international game. In his appearance on Ash Ki Baat YouTube, Ashwin questioned why so many people were quick to target Sooryavanshi in a single moment.“All we can do is speak with hate. And then what happens? If the person we hate ends up reading those things, it might affect them a little. But what will we achieve by speaking? That’s why I’m saying this. How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?”Ashwin also pushed back against those calling for more maturity from the teenager, reminding critics that age and experience should be taken into account before passing judgement.“Tell me, how can anyone hate him? And everyone’s saying, ‘That kid should have grown up. He should have talked more grown up.’ Have we forgotten that we too were once children? Have we forgotten that there are such children in our families? This is a very dangerous trend,” he added.The former off-spinner went on to explain the difference between constructive criticism and hate, claiming that the two are often confused in modern sports discussions.“What is criticism? If you are hosting a show today and I say, ‘Vimal bhai, I didn’t like today’s hosting so much. Maybe we could pay attention here. Maybe this question could be asked differently. Maybe this point could be addressed differently.’ That’s criticism. Criticism is about finding a way for someone to move forward and improve. But what is hate? Hate is when someone has achieved something and we constantly attack them with words. We try to tear them down. That won’t happen,” Ashwin said.With Sooryavanshi potentially set to make his India debut in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, Ashwin urged supporters and critics alike to allow the youngster to develop without the weight of constant scrutiny.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a cricketer. He performs for us. He is an entertainer with immense skills. Forget his family, his supporters, his fans and the team management for a moment. As a lover of the sport, I want him to enjoy cricket and play without pressure. After playing cricket for so many years, I have realized that playing cricket for so long is the hardest thing. he can give him freedom, let him succeed or fail, it doesn’t matter the way he is playing, let the kid enjoy it,” Ashwin said.The support from Ashwin comes after a remarkable rise for Sooryavanshi. Despite speculation that the opposition bowlers have worked out their game ahead of IPL 2026, the left-hander has responded in a stunning way. He amassed 776 runs to win the Orange Cap and became the youngest player in the tournament’s history to finish as the top run-scorer. In doing so, he surpassed established stars Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.His performances left the national selectors with little room for debate. Chairman Ajit Agarkar later acknowledged that Sooryavanshi’s actions had effectively forced the selection committee to include him in India’s T20I squad for the Ireland-England series.The youngster carried his form into the India A set-up as he smashed a match-winning 94 against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series final, further strengthening his position ahead of what could be a landmark international debut.