# Sanath Jayasuriya labels Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India's future, advises patience before rushing him into playing eleven > Former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya has praised teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting his immense potential while cautioning against fast-tracking him into India's playing XI. **Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-09-20 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/sanath-jayasuriya-ne-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-ko-bataya-india-ka-bhavishya-pleinga-11-men-shamila-karane-men-jaldabaji-na-karane-ki-di-35391 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanath Jayasuriya, Indian Cricket, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, T20 Cricket Former Sri Lanka captain and 1996 World Cup winner Sanath Jayasuriya has offered glowing praise for teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, identifying him as a rare talent capable of defining the future of Indian cricket. While acknowledging the teenager's exceptional gifts, the veteran cricketer emphasized that the national team management should avoid rushing him prematurely into the playing eleven. ## Allowing young talent the space to develop Speaking on Sunday in Gurugram, the 57-year-old former legend pointed out that Sooryavanshi has time on his side to mature into a complete international cricketer. The youngster had recently been selected in the Indian squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan. However, the team management opted to persist with their established opening combination of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma throughout the rubber. Jayasuriya expressed full confidence that Sooryavanshi possesses the temperament to capitalize on opportunities whenever they arrive. He noted that the exact batting slot assigned to him would ultimately depend on match conditions and tactical requirements, making patience the most prudent path forward for the promising youngster. ## Selection dynamics and intense squad competition While declining to pass judgment on specific selection calls or the batting order, Jayasuriya underlined the fierce competition that defines Indian cricket today. He pointed out that incumbent openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson must sustain consistent performances to retain their spots, given the relentless pressure from players waiting in the wings. According to him, Indian cricket boasts an exceptional depth of talent where equally capable alternatives are always prepared to step up and deliver. In such a high-stakes environment, every cricketer must push themselves through hard work and training drills to protect their place in the national side. ## High benchmarks across all three formats Jayasuriya also lauded the overall standards set by Indian cricketers across Test, One Day International, and T20 formats. Maintaining peak performance across all three styles of the game represents a difficult challenge, yet Indian players continue to thrive due to their deep-rooted drive to wear the national colours. Additionally, he underscored the value of corporate-level cricket tournaments in expanding the country's talent pool. Such platforms offer a crucial springboard to players who may have missed out on chances through conventional club, regional, or state-level channels, ultimately serving the wider interests of Indian cricket. ## What this means for you This assessment gives cricket followers and budding players a realistic look at the depth of India's squad reserves and the patience required at the top level. - **For cricket enthusiasts:** Young prodigies must endure a competitive waiting period before breaking into the playing eleven. Fans looking forward to seeing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in action will need to track his appearances in domestic circuits and franchise leagues. - **For emerging players:** The internal competition within the national setup means that getting selected in the squad does not guarantee an immediate cap. Young cricketers must deliver continuous match-winning performances to earn a permanent spot. - **For incumbent openers:** Established players like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma remain under constant pressure to produce consistent scores. Any dip in form opens the door for waiting bench strength to step in immediately. - **For corporate cricketers:** Non-traditional leagues and corporate competitions serve as genuine avenues for talent discovery. Players who missed out on traditional state or club routes have viable platforms to showcase their skills. ## Why this happened Sanath Jayasuriya offered his observations in response to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's recent squad inclusion and the intense competition for India's opening slots. - **Recent squad inclusion:** Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was picked in the Indian squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan. The team management chose to field established openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, leaving the youngster on the bench. - **Extreme depth in Indian cricket:** With multiple contenders vying for every slot, drafting a new player straight into the starting eleven disrupts tactical balance. Jayasuriya emphasized this immense competition to urge caution against prematurely pressuring a young prodigy. - **Context of the event:** Speaking at a cricket gathering in Gurugram, Jayasuriya reflected on overall player development and alternative pathways like corporate cricket. He stressed that experience and consistency remain vital for long-term international success. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What did Sanath Jayasuriya say about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Jayasuriya called Vaibhav Sooryavanshi a rare talent and the future of Indian cricket, advising against rushing him into the playing eleven. ### 2. Which series was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi recently selected for? He was part of the Indian squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan. ### 3. Who opened the batting for India in the T20 series against Afghanistan? The team management relied on the regular opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma. ### 4. What caution did Jayasuriya offer regarding Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma? He noted that intense competition in Indian cricket requires Samson and Sharma to perform consistently to keep their spots. ### 5. What were Jayasuriya's views on corporate cricket events? He highlighted that corporate tournaments provide a valuable platform for talented players who missed out on club or state-level opportunities. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._