‘We rushed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’: Wasim Jaffer says India got carried away by hype

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (ANI Photo) Former India batsman Wasim Jaffer believes the Indian team management brought teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into international cricket, saying the decision was influenced by public excitement rather than cricketing logic.Jaffer’s remarks came after India recalled Sanju Samson for the fifth and final T20I against England, with the 15-year-old opener out after scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his three matches. Samson started the series but was omitted from the second game to accommodate Sooryavanshi before returning for the series finale.“I think we rushed Vaibhav’s inclusion,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel. “There was a lot of media hype around him and the public was very emotional to see him play. Otherwise, I have already said that India should have gone ahead with Sanju Samson.”The former opener felt that Sooryavanshi would have benefited from spending more time around the national team before his debut.“Vaibhav had to wait for his opportunity and when that opportunity came, he was able to take it. He is still very young and can learn a lot just by being in the team and watching cricket from the outside,” Jaffer said.

“We got carried away by the hype”

Jaffer questioned India’s constant changes at the top of the order and said the management seemed to be reacting to the growing clamor around the teenager.“It felt like we got carried away by the media hype. Every time Vaibhav didn’t play, there was a lot of discussion about it,” he said.“I just thought he should have waited. If you were absolutely convinced that Sanju was not in good form or not playing well, then you could have taken that decision. But in the end it looked like you brought Vaibhav into the team,” he added.Jaffer also expressed surprise at the behavior of Samson, who was left out of the Indian squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, while Sooryavanshi retained his place.“Then, after giving him three matches, you brought Sanju back. Sanju himself has only played one match and now he has been left out of the Zimbabwe tour. I also thought it was a bit strange to drop him from the Zimbabwe tour because I’m sure he would have wanted to play,” Jaffer said.“He is currently playing only one format for India. He should get regular opportunities. I am sure Sanju Samson will be part of the plans for the next World Cup as he is a match winner. I have been really surprised by the way things have turned out,” he added.

Yuvraj supports the teenage prodigy

While Jaffer urged patience, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh expressed immense confidence in Sooryavanshi’s long-term future.In an interview with JioHotstar, Yuvraj compared the development of India’s fearless batsmen to the Terminator movie franchise and described Sooryavanshi as the latest and most advanced version after himself and his protégé Abhishek Sharma.“I always call myself Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more,” said Yuvraj.The World Cup-winning all-rounder added that he would like to mentor the youngster in the future as he believes Sooryavanshi has the potential to enjoy a long and successful international career despite his early setbacks.