"Didn't Feel Bad For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi" After He Was Dropped: Ex-Star Explains R Ashwin Why

Will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play in the fifth T20I between India and New Zealand? That will be one question on the minds of his aficionados. So far, India have used him in the second and third T20Is, where he scored 4 and 45 respectively. Ishan Kishan was brought back in the fourth T20I, which India lost, though India had already sealed the series by then. The final match of the contest will be played in Hamilton on Sunday.

In an interaction with spin great Ravichandran Ashwin, former India spinner Rahul Sharma, who played four ODIs and two T20Is, backed the move of restoring Ishan Kishan at the cost of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

"Ishan has been in great form and has done well. So if he is coming back from injury, you need to back him. He is an important part. I did not feel bad for Vaibhav. He is still developing. The more time you give him with the team and matches, the more he will grow. We are lucky that he is here and in the team," Rahul said on Ash Ki Baat.

"But there should be a mutual understanding, and Ishan deserves to come back. You won the series, and with two games left, you could have given Ishan more rest and played Vaibhav. But maybe Ishan would have wanted to play too. Because when a player is injured, he says he will play when he is fit, and maybe that was the thinking."

Despite being 15, Sooryavanshi has a massive fan following. And he has earned that with great performances in the IPL as well as for the Indian cricket team. Ashwin, though, pointed out that amid the hype around Sooryavanshi, one must not forget the likes of Sanju Samson.

"There are many fans of Vaibhav. Even my mom does not watch if he is not playing. I am also a big fan of his. But you also have to look at Samson's story. He worked hard in the last 10-15 years. Many times, he got close but did not get chances and even failed. He came back, and now he has cemented his spot. It is his time now. He is there. He has performed. There is no question about Abhishek's spot either. Ishan, the way he has performed in the last 18 months everywhere, his place is also fixed. Vaibhav deserves it. But unfortunately, he is in India. There is so much competition. And he is not a complete player yet," Ashwin said.

"Abhishek plays only one format. There is no place for him in Tests and ODIs. Ishan Kishan also. Samson also. Their cricket is only in this format. So if they don't play here and you say to drop them and give someone else a chance, what will they do? We must have some sympathy for these players. They rightfully deserve to hold onto their places. Vaibhav can make his place eventually, but those three deserve it more than he does."

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