Young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already attracted plenty of attention with his performances but spending too much time on the sidelines could become a concern for his development. Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes the youngster needs more opportunities, particularly in red-ball cricket, and has suggested that he should be considered for India A.
Wasim Jaffer, who was also a strong contender for the position of BCCI chief selector, wants to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tested in the longer format. However, he believes the situation could create a difficult choice for the Indian team management.
The India A setup is considered an important step towards earning a place in the senior national team. Players who are on the fringes of selection are usually picked from domestic competitions and sent on overseas tours to face challenging opposition. These tours sometimes take place alongside the senior team’s international assignments.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already experienced this pathway. Earlier this year, he travelled to Sri Lanka with the India A team and also participated in the Emerging Asia Cup last year. However, following his senior India debut in August, the youngster has become the backup opening option behind Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
The problem is that India’s reluctance to make frequent changes to its playing XI has limited Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s opportunities. He generally gets a chance only when one of the first-choice openers is unavailable due to injury or another reason. This has raised concerns that spending so much time on the bench could affect his development, despite his young age.
Speaking to a leading publication, Wasim Jaffer also expressed concern over the changing approach to India A selections. He believes the selection process has lost some of its importance, with players performing well in the IPL sometimes getting preference over cricketers who have worked their way through domestic cricket.
Wasim Jaffer agreed that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi deserves an opportunity with India A, especially because red-ball cricket is the only format in which the youngster is yet to be properly tested. At the same time, he described the situation as a double-edged sword for the Indian team management. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently the first-choice backup whenever one of the senior opening options is unavailable. If Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson or Abhishek Sharma misses a match, questions are likely to arise over why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has not been included in the playing XI.
This makes the situation difficult to manage. Sending Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play for India A would mean that the senior team would need another backup opener to fill his place. However, making such a change could invite another round of criticism from fans and cricket experts.
The Indian team management therefore faces a tricky decision: should it give the young batter more opportunities to develop through India A cricket, or continue keeping him as the immediate backup for the senior side? What is your take on this matter?
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