India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi still has not got a single chance till now in the ongoing five-match T20I series against the West Indies, and now It's a familiar story for the 15-year-old wonderkid, who has found himself caught in a selection tug-of-war ever since making his international debut.
After handing Sooryavanshi his debut, India have played musical chairs with the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Sooryavanshi.
The team have competed for the remaining spot, and neither has been given a longer run.
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In the build-up to the recently concluded Asian Games 2026, India played Samson as an opener against Afghanistan. Surprisingly, they dropped him to number three at the Asiad, with Sooryavanshi opening alongside Abhishek.
Just when the southpaw looked set to keep the role in the next T20I series, which turned out to be against the West Indies, India changed course again. This time Samson was picked for the first three T20Is, and Sooryavanshi was back on the bench.
Childhood Coach Hits Out At Management
The handling of the teenager has now drawn sharp criticism. In a recent interaction, Sooryavanshi's childhood coach, Manish Ojha, lashed out at the Gautam Gambhir-led team management. He slammed their decisions, calling the approach "dictatorship".
"According to me, Vaibhav is like a storm. Whoever tries to take him on will eventually break; if not today, then tomorrow," Manish Ojha told Sports Now.
He didn't mince any words and elaborated his views by saying, "This current Indian team management feels that they make players by keeping them on the bench."
"There are many other legends of cricket; you talk to them, and everyone will say that if we have to prepare the next generation of players, they must be put into those situations; they must be made to play. Sitting on the bench, no player has ever been made, nor will they be. And especially if such talent is kept on the bench," he added.
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The coach slammed the team management's decisions, terming it "dictatorship".
"Then either they have made up their mind that this kid will not be given a chance... keep him out and frustrate him so much. He is sitting outside and serving water. I feel that the management that is here right now is practising a kind of dictatorship where whatever comes to mind, they will do," he concluded.
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