Mumbai: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has questioned the way young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was introduced to international cricket, saying the team management could have handled his transition much better. According to Kaif, the 15-year-old should have been given his debut during India's tour of Ireland rather than being thrown into the more challenging conditions of England. He believes that a gradual introduction would have helped the youngster gain confidence before facing stronger opposition.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said Sooryavanshi had already proved his talent during the IPL 2026, where he emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest stars by winning the Orange Cap. His consistent performances made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country. After such an impressive season, many expected him to feature in India's playing XI during the Ireland series. However, the team management preferred experienced players Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma in the opening matches, leaving Sooryavanshi on the bench.

Kaif believes that keeping the teenager out despite his outstanding form affected his confidence. He argued that players who are in exceptional form should be backed immediately instead of being made to wait for opportunities. According to him, allowing Sooryavanshi to make his debut against Ireland would have reduced the pressure before he entered the much tougher England series. He said the youngster would have become familiar with international cricket in relatively easier conditions and carried greater confidence into the next assignment.

Sooryavanshi eventually made his T20I debut during the England series after Samson was dropped following a string of poor performances. However, the young left-hander struggled in his first three innings and was left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final match. Kaif felt that judging such a young player after only a few innings was unfair, especially considering the challenging English conditions and the quality of opposition.

The former India batter also pointed out that Sooryavanshi was not an ordinary prospect but a rare talent who had earned his place through consistent performances. He said winning the Orange Cap in the IPL was proof that the youngster had delivered throughout the tournament rather than in just one or two matches. Kaif remarked that special talents often require special handling and suggested that the management should have shown greater faith in the teenager from the very beginning.

Referring to Sooryavanshi’s performances after the England series, Kaif highlighted his outstanding display against Zimbabwe. The youngster scored 151 runs in the three-match T20I series, including a highest score of 81, and was named the Player of the Series. Kaif said this performance demonstrated that the player’s ability had never been in doubt. Instead, he believed the initial handling of the youngster's international career made the journey more difficult than necessary.

Kaif also noted that Sooryavanshi had to face one of the world's top fast bowlers, Jofra Archer, early in his international career, making his task even more challenging. He stressed that young cricketers need patience and consistent backing during their initial phase rather than being judged after a handful of innings. According to him, talented youngsters flourish when they are given confidence and continuity instead of facing immediate pressure to deliver.

Sooryavanshi continues to be regarded as one of Indian cricket’s brightest prospects. His fearless batting, maturity at a young age, and performances in domestic and franchise cricket have already earned him significant attention. Kaif believes the teenager has the potential to become a major player for India in the coming years, provided he receives sustained support from the team management and enough opportunities to settle into international cricket.

With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rewriting IPL records at 15, Yashasvi Jaiswal faces his lowest-scoring IPL season — and growing calls from cricketing voices to seek a fresh start elsewhere.

Prodigy Rewrites the Record Books

It was supposed to be another Rajasthan Royals batting display. By the time Vaibhav Sooryavanshi walked off the field against Sunrisers Hyderabad — dismissed for 97, three runs shy of what would have been the fastest hundred in IPL history — the conversation in Indian cricket had already changed. The 15-year-old had broken Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in a single IPL season during the same innings, helping RR post 243/8. SRH replied with 196, losing by 47 runs.

It was emphatically Sooryavanshi's evening. And that, increasingly, is the problem for the man who opens alongside him.

Jaiswal's Numbers Quietly Dip

Yashasvi Jaiswal has scored 426 runs in the current IPL campaign — his lowest return across the past four seasons. The contrast with recent years is sharp: 559 runs, then 435, then a career-best 625 in 2024. The spark that once defined his game at the top of the order has been harder to find, and former India players are beginning to say so publicly.

Former India captain Mohammad Kaif was candid on his YouTube channel about what he sees unfolding at Rajasthan Royals.

"Jaiswal was one such player who used to dominate. What Vaibhav is doing, Jaiswal used to do. Yes, he didn't use to hit so many sixes but had a higher strike rate and used to hit boundaries. He has gotten behind that phase. He's a strong player and would make a comeback." — Mohammad Kaif

He added: "Someone is doing his work, and that too 50 times better, so that's the difference. He's playing second fiddle. I think he's an excellent player."

Rayudu Urges a Move

Now in his seventh season with the Royals, Jaiswal is at a fork in the road — at least according to Ambati Rayudu. The former Chennai Super Kings batter told ESPNcricinfo that the young opener needs a platform where the spotlight belongs to him alone.

"He needs to change his game because he cannot just bat with the guy and be overshadowed every single time. He is a star in his own right. If he goes to another team, he will win games on his own. He needs space and a platform because this guy will continue to overshadow people." — Ambati Rayudu, ESPNcricinfo

Rayudu also named a potential destination, pointing to Mumbai Indians as a side that will eventually need to fill the opening slot vacated by Rohit Sharma. "MI could be a great team for Jaiswal," he said.

White-Ball Future in Question

The concern stretches beyond franchise cricket. Jaiswal was once considered an all-format certainty for India, but the picture looks more complicated now. A century against South Africa in his most recent ODI outing was a bright spot, yet he was not included in the squad for the subsequent Afghanistan series. In T20Is, the surging form of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson has pushed him further down the pecking order in the shortest format.

What Comes Next

There is no dispute over Jaiswal's talent — even Kaif was emphatic about his quality and future. The harder question is about context. When the same stage, the same team, and often the same over belongs to a 15-year-old phenom, even the best players can find themselves adjusting in ways that don't suit them. Whether Jaiswal re-establishes his identity at the Royals or moves on will become clearer at the auction table. For now, the debate is live — and louder than he would have hoped.