Vaibhav Suryavanshi's close coach, Manish Ojha, expressed serious criticism towards the Indian team management after the young player was not given a spot in the starting XI for the first three matches of the T20 series against West Indies. Ojha accused the Indian setup of arbitrariness, stating that players cannot be prepared by sitting on the bench.
According to a report by 'Times Now', Manish Ojha believes that talented athletes like Vaibhav should be given opportunities to play in matches instead of constantly being kept out of the squad. He emphasized that young players require regular game experience to improve their skills and prepare for the challenges of international cricket. In Ojha's opinion, no one becomes a player just by sitting on the bench.
The coach also voiced concern about the impact of constantly excluding Vaibhav from the squad on his confidence. He noted that frequent denial of chances can lead a player to feel that the team does not need him, which can cause disappointment. Ojha questioned whether the management had predetermined that Vaibhav would not be given a chance, calling the leadership's approach arbitrary. He insisted that at his age, Vaibhav should play regularly to gain experience and hone his game, adding that currently, Vaibhav is watching the game and handing out water instead of playing.
Despite brilliant performances in the IPL and youth cricket, which helped him get into the Indian team, Vaibhav debuted in T20 Internationals against England in Manchester in July 2026. This debut made him the youngest player to debut for India in international cricket, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record. Currently, Vaibhav has played eight T20 Internationals for India, scoring 246 runs at an average of 30.75 and a strike rate of 186.36, including two half-centuries. During this period, he scored 22 fours and 18 sixes. After Vaibhav's selection, India played 19 matches, 11 of which he did not feature in the starting XI.
Previously, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel spoke about Vaibhav before the series against West Indies, saying it would be beneficial for him to spend more time with the team. Morkel considered it important for the development of the young batsman to observe the work of experienced players, train with them, and be near them. According to Morkel, even if Vaibhav is not allowed to play, the time spent in the dressing room, hotel, and on the bench with veterans will be useful as he can study how senior players plan their innings and work on their process.
In the Asian Games, Vaibhav represented India in 2026. He had the opportunity to play in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and the final against Pakistan. In both matches, he started alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Sanju Samson was third, and Ishan Kishan, who usually plays at this position, was fifth in the final. Against Sri Lanka, Vaibhav scored 38 runs, and against Pakistan, 15. India won the gold medal by winning the final. Nevertheless, he expects a place in the starting XI for the home matches against West Indies.
In the series against West Indies, led by Shreersh Iyer, the Indian team leads 2-1 in the five-match T20 series. India secured the first victory by eight wickets. West Indies leveled the score by winning the second T20 by six wickets. Then India took the advantage by winning the third match in Indore by 14 runs. The remaining two matches of the series will take place on October 14 and 17 in Hyderabad and Bangalore, respectively. The T20 matches between India and West Indies will be broadcast on Star Sports Network, and online streaming is available on the JioHotstar app.