Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Gautam Gambhir
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s continued absence from India’s playing XI has left fans frustrated, but former India spinner Murali Kartik believes there is little reason for the team management to rush the 15-year-old into the side when the established opening options are performing well.Despite being named Player of the Series during India’s tour of Zimbabwe, Sooryavanshi did not feature in the subsequent T20I series against Afghanistan and West Indies. The teenage batter is also yet to make his senior India debut on home soil, even as his performances in the IPL have made him one of the country’s most talked-about young talents.
His absence has become a talking point at India’s home matches, with supporters hoping to see him play. Sooryavanshi did get an opportunity to open alongside Abhishek Sharma during the Asian Games, offering a glimpse of his potential, but his wait for a regular spot in the senior team’s playing XI continues.Speaking in an interaction facilitated by Sony Sports Network, Kartik backed the management’s decision to retain its existing opening combination, highlighting the contributions of Sanju Samson and Abhishek. He also pointed to the presence of
Ishan Kishan
, whose recent form has made competition for a place at the top of the order even tougher."I am not somebody who makes a change for the sake of it. I know change is constant, but change for the right reasons.
There has to be a reason why there is a change. So, when it comes to the opening duo in India, I know they are a bit inconsistent, but that is what has won games for you," said Karthik.Samson and Abhishek have accumulated 1,125 runs together in 38 T20Is, making them India’s fourth-highest run-scoring partnership in the format. Kartik believes their record, combined with the quality of the other available batters, makes it difficult to justify a change simply to accommodate another promising player."We have seen the quality of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, both of them are sitting right up there. Then you've got Ishan Kishan, who's your number two, number one players out there, so it's very difficult to make the change."
Kartik draws comparison with
Kartik also compared Sooryavanshi’s situation with that of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has found opportunities limited in India’s white-ball setup despite producing impressive performances in Test cricket and the IPL.With Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill established at the top of the order in ODIs, Jaiswal has had to wait for his chance in the format. Kartik sees a similar challenge for Sooryavanshi, whose talent is not in question but who must contend with players already occupying the positions he is targeting."Yes, we get excited because he's an exciting talent. We are not taking anything away, but at the end of the day, it's like Yashasvi Jaiswal in white-ball cricket. Do you make the change just for the sake of it, just to knock somebody off?""I don't think I am in favor of that. I've never been in favor of that.
I don't think going forward I'll ever be in favor of that," said Karthik.The former spinner stressed that a player’s ability alone does not automatically justify a change in the playing XI. In his view, selection decisions must be based on a clear need rather than the excitement surrounding a young prospect.
‘You have to wait for your opportunity’
Kartik acknowledged that Sooryavanshi’s opportunity could come if one of the established batters goes through a prolonged lean patch.
The youngster made his India debut in England when Samson was struggling for runs, illustrating how changes in form can open doors for players waiting on the sidelines.However, Kartik said there was no way to predict when such a situation might arise. Until then, Sooryavanshi must remain prepared to step in whenever the team needs him.At the end of the day, we can't predict what's going to happen. Tomorrow, it could be that one of the batters going 15 innings without getting runs, and you are forced to make a change."So, at that point of time, you want the second guy who's waiting. The guy waiting behind the door, ready to come out and say, 'listen, I'm there.'""And that's exactly how it should be handled, rather than saying, oh, we like him, people want to see him, so let's bring him in. No, that's being unfair on the guys who are already there," said Karthik.
Beyond selection, Kartik believes it is important for the team management to be honest with Sooryavanshi about his position in the squad. He pointed to the messages from head coach
Gautam Gambhir
and captain
Shreyas Iyer
, who have stressed that the youngster must remain patient and consistent with his preparation.Kartik said that while hearing such a message might be difficult for a player eager to prove himself, being told the truth is better than being left uncertain about his future."Even if you have to give them the harsh truth, it's better to give it to them, because you take it on your chin. You might not like it; it's not palatable for a while, but it is what it is. You have to deal with it and move on.""I think that is the best way to go about things. Because Shreyas has spoken about it, Gautam has spoken about it, I'm pretty sure they're having the right word with Sooryavanshi, because he's there. Nobody is saying that he's not there. It's just that sometimes when the others are doing well, you cannot. It is unfortunate, but it is what it is," said Karthik..