Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s continued absence from the Indian playing XI in the T20I series against West Indies. The 15-year-old opener has missed all three matches so far, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson continuing to occupy the opening positions. While Ashwin believes Sooryavanshi deserves an opportunity, he also acknowledged that Samson’s performances have made it difficult for the youngster to break into the team. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “I just feel Sanju is doing enough at the moment to keep Vaibhav out of the team. Unfortunately, Vaibhav should be given an opportunity. But what can we do? Such things happen in life.”

According to the former spinner, the team management recognises Abhishek’s ability to win matches single-handedly when he gets going. “Abhishek Sharma cannot be touched. Abhishek Sharma is an exceptional player. If his bat gets going, he always wins matches for India,” Ashwin said. Abhishek recently played a crucial role in India’s 14-run victory over West Indies in the third T20I, scoring 69 runs off just 30 balls. His aggressive batting provided India with a strong foundation and once again highlighted his match-winning potential. Ashwin also praised Abhishek’s recent performances, particularly his ability to score runs on challenging pitches. He believes the left-hander is improving steadily rather than remaining at the same level. “He is a fabulous player. He will keep learning little by little,” Ashwin said. The former India spinner also praised Abhishek’s style, timing and elegance, saying he always enjoys watching him bat. With Abhishek and Samson currently ahead in the race for opening spots, Sooryavanshi may have to wait longer for his international opportunity. However, keeping a promising young batter on the bench for an extended period could raise questions about how India plans to use his talent. One possible option is to promote Sooryavanshi to open alongside Abhishek, with Samson moving to No. 3. India could then use Ishan Kishan at No. 4 and Shreyas Iyer at No. 5 to strengthen the attacking potential of the batting order. Such a change would give Sooryavanshi an opportunity without necessarily dropping an established player from the lineup. However, the final decision rests with the Indian team management.