Gautam Gambhir under fire for trying to 'crush' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's confidence amid Zimbabwe series

India's teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally announced himself on the international stage with a record-breaking half-century against Zimbabwe in the first T20I. The knock not only helped India register a comfortable victory but also reignited debate over his omission during the England series, with former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticising head coach Gautam Gambhir for dropping the youngster after just three failures.

Srikkanth questioned the decision, claiming it could have damaged the 15-year-old's confidence before praising Sooryavanshi's fearless approach.

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Srikkanth questions Gambhir over Sooryavanshi's omission

Sooryavanshi managed scores of 14, 13 and 15 in his first three T20I appearances during India's tour of England before being left out of the fifth match.

Following the youngster's stunning 18-ball half-century against Zimbabwe, Srikkanth expressed his disappointment over the decision to drop him.

"This boy is really something special. How did Gautam Gambhir foolishly drop him, of all people, after three failures to crush his confidence?" said Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel.

The former World Cup winner also praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for staying committed to improving his game. Srikkanth revealed that instead of returning home after the England tour, the youngster headed straight to the Rajasthan Royals camp to work on his batting against the short ball.

Record-breaking knock silences critics

With Gautam Gambhir absent from the Zimbabwe tour and VVS Laxman overseeing the side, Sooryavanshi grabbed his opportunity with both hands.

The teenage opener became the youngest player in history to score a maiden T20I half-century, racing to the landmark in just 18 balls. He eventually scored 50 off 19 deliveries, striking four fours and four sixes as India chased down 126 in just 13.2 overs to secure a seven-wicket victory.

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Krishnamachari Srikkanth reserved special praise for the youngster's fearless mindset, saying many players would have played cautiously after three low scores to protect their place in the team. Instead, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to attack from the outset, a quality the former India opener believes makes him a special talent.