India's decision to leave 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI for the fifth T20 International against England has sparked criticism from former cricketers, with several experts arguing that the youngster was dropped too early in his international career. Sooryavanshi made his debut during the series after replacing Sanju Samson and featured in three consecutive matches before being omitted for the final game. The decision came as India suffered a 4-0 series defeat after the opening match was abandoned due to rain.

The teenage batter scored 14, 13 and 15 in his three innings, showing glimpses of his talent but failing to convert promising starts into substantial scores. For the fifth T20I, India recalled Sanju Samson, who had earlier been dropped after registering scores of 5, 0 and 1. The selection decision immediately became a talking point, with many questioning whether the youngster had been given sufficient opportunities to establish himself at the international level.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann strongly criticised the move, saying Sooryavanshi had displayed enough potential to deserve a longer run in the side. Swann argued that the teenager had not looked out of place against international bowlers and warned that dropping a 15-year-old so quickly could affect his confidence and emotional development. He said young talents with exceptional potential should be nurtured carefully rather than judged solely on immediate results.

Also Read: Sunil Gavaskar Explains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Stumping During India Debut Against England

Swann further suggested that Sooryavanshi had become a victim of the Indian team's overall struggles during the series rather than his own performances. According to the former England international, the youngster was unfairly made to pay the price for the team's disappointing results. He maintained that developing promising cricketers requires patience and long-term planning, particularly when dealing with players at such an early stage of their careers.

At the toss before the fifth T20I, India captain Shreyas Iyer defended the selection changes, explaining that the management was trying to identify the best combination for the future. Iyer said the inclusion of Sanju Samson and Suryansh Shedge was based on what the team believed would strengthen its plans going forward. The captain stressed that the changes were made in the overall interest of the team rather than reflecting on any individual player's ability.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar also questioned the decision to leave Sooryavanshi out, saying he would have preferred to see the youngster receive another opportunity. Gavaskar said the batter appeared visibly disappointed after learning of his omission and believed one more innings would have allowed him to demonstrate whether he had learned from his earlier dismissals. While expressing no objection to Samson's return, Gavaskar urged the young batter to treat the setback as motivation and continue working towards a long international career.

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Hype Unwarranted, India Selects Players Strictly On Performance Merit