Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is edging closer to the India setup, and with an international call-up looming sooner rather than later, the teenager is now facing intense scrutiny. Big-stage cricket does not forgive mistakes, and even well-wishers want to see him develop fully—across every discipline—not just with the bat.
So far, much of the talk around the 15-year-old has been positive. Fans and followers have highlighted his ability to clear the ropes with powerful six-hitting, and the idea that, on his best days, he can dismantle opponents quickly. The main question raised by critics has been slightly different: he doesn’t always look like a naturally “textbook” batter, and there are worries that he may be made to pay at certain points if his technique isn’t refined.
Now former India batter Mohammad Kaif has brought another element into the spotlight—one that can be just as decisive as batting or bowling in T20 cricket: fielding. Kaif, known for his own standards in the field during his playing days, stressed that catching, stopping, and overall athleticism often determine whether a team wins or falls short.
In what will come as a jolt for those backing Sooryavanshi, Kaif pointed out that he has not taken a single catch this season. He also criticised the young batter’s overall fielding during Rajasthan Royals’ defeat of Delhi Capitals on Sunday night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, arguing that his contributions in the field have not matched the level expected.
“It’s painful to watch the fielding in this IPL. Today, Yash Raj dropped KL [Rahul] when he was on zero. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi too misfielded. The young boy hasn’t taken a catch this season. While playing for India, he needs to be sharper on the field. It is the duty of coaches to teach youngsters fielding skills. On their part, the boys should enjoy fielding and take pride in it,” Kaif wrote on X.
That is a blunt evaluation, and it is one the left-handed batter—and those around him—will have to take seriously as his prospects with India grow.
Ravi Shastri pushes for no delay
Ravi Shastri, meanwhile, has urged selectors not to postpone Sooryavanshi’s progression. The former India coach believes the youngster is already competing at the right intensity and has made a strong case based on current form.
Sooryavanshi is currently part of the India A group, which is set to play an ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka next month. There is also growing indication that he could make his India debut against Ireland later in the same month, in the immediate window after the tri-series.
Speaking recently, Shastri said he does not get hung up on age when assessing readiness, focusing instead on how the batter performs against top-level opposition.
“A lot of people will ask, is he 15, is he 16, is he 14? I don’t care. I just see the way he is batting at the moment and the way he’s taking on all comers twice his age or maybe two and a half times his age. It doesn’t matter to him,” Shastri said on the latest episode of The ICC Review.
He added that Sooryavanshi appears to be in the reckoning, particularly with India’s upcoming tour of Ireland in June—featuring two T20Is—coming up shortly.
“So I think he’s very, very much in the reckoning. And when you have tours of Ireland [in June for 2 T20Is] and all this happening now, I would be looking into him straight away,” he said.
Shastri also pointed to the nature of T20 cricket as the best pathway to bring a young talent into the setup quickly.
“I can tell you that, for sure, because if you want to encourage or get someone young and into the setup as quickly as possible, then it’s the T20 format of the game, and he is not short by any margin,” Shastri added.
To conclude, the former coach said the youngster’s fearless energy is visible and could translate well across sides at the highest level.
“This guy can walk into a lot of sides in world cricket at this current moment in time. Just when you look at the exuberance of youth, that youth shows on his face,” Shastri said.
