Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a bright young talent, must first polish his catching and overall fielding before earning a place in India’s senior men’s setup. Kaif’s comments came after Sooryavanshi’s involvement in fielding errors during the Rajasthan Royals’ five-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where the visitors fell short of defending 193/8.
Kaif argued that scouting should not focus solely on batting talent. He said selectors and talent evaluators should include a fielding evaluation as part of the process, noting that while the right players are being brought into the system, he has not seen Sooryavanshi take a single catch yet. In Kaif’s view, improving fielding is a prerequisite if Sooryavanshi wants to play for India.
He also addressed a specific chance in the match. Kaif explained that balls arriving at a good height can be harder to judge when a batter attempts a flick, because the delivery can create a difficult angle for the fielder—particularly when the ball comes off the bat. However, he felt Sooryavanshi got into a strong position to take the catch off Sahil Parakh, but failed to take it cleanly. Kaif added that the fielder did not need to jump; the catch near the waist was within reach, but it was missed.
“Vaibhav is really talented with the bat,” Kaif said, while stressing that the youngster is not yet ready in the field.
What Sooryavanshi showed with the bat
Despite the criticism, Kaif’s remarks acknowledged Sooryavanshi’s batting impact. In the same contest, Sooryavanshi looked especially sharp during the power-play, striking 46 runs off 21 balls before his innings was broken by a slower delivery from Madhav Tiwari.
Harbhajan’s view on how to bowl to him
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also weighed in on Sooryavanshi’s style and the challenge it poses for bowlers. Harbhajan said that his primary aim would be to get the wicket, while also tailoring his approach depending on the batter’s current form. He suggested spinning the ball and keeping it away from the batter’s preferred hitting zone, so that Sooryavanshi is not able to swing freely inside his scoring area.
Harbhajan added that if Sooryavanshi steps out of the crease to attempt big shots, that is acceptable from a bowler’s perspective. His concern, he said, would be to prevent the youngster from playing his strokes while remaining in position and executing his usual game plan.
He then highlighted just how dominant Sooryavanshi has looked for a teenager. Harbhajan said that at the age of 15, the batter can hit every bowler for six and that his ball-by-ball control is unusual. Harbhajan claimed he has dismissed Chris Gayle on multiple occasions, but believes Sooryavanshi operates at a different level altogether, praising his bat flow as something he has never seen before.
