Kaif Criticizes Gambhir-Led India Over Handling of Sooryavanshi, Samson
Selection decisions under fire
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has criticized the Indian team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, for its inconsistent handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson during the UK tour. Kaif described the selection strategy as confusing and said the frequent changes could hurt players’ confidence.
According to Kaif, both Sooryavanshi and Samson deserved greater backing rather than being shuffled in and out of the lineup.
“Never seen a more confused Indian cricket team management. The handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson has been far from professional. One is a generational talent, another World Cup winner—they need to be given confidence, not doubts in their minds,” Kaif said.
Kaif’s criticism echoed comments from Sunil Gavaskar, who questioned the decision to drop the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi after just three matches, while Ambati Rayudu pointed to a lack of clear communication from the team management. With both Sooryavanshi and Samson playing aggressive attacking cricket, their repeated inclusion and omission disrupted India’s batting combinations.
Disappointing UK tour prompts BCCI review
India endured a difficult T20I campaign in the UK, losing six of seven matches across series against Ireland and England. The poor run also cost the team its No. 1 ranking in the T20I format, raising concerns over tactics, team selection and batting consistency.
The BCCI is expected to conduct a review of the tour once the ongoing ODI series concludes, with leadership decisions, selection policies and overall strategy likely to come under scrutiny.
Iyer explains selection approach
Captain Shreyas Iyer defended the decision to bring Samson back for the fifth T20I, saying the move was intended to pair him with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order and test a different opening combination.
While Iyer described the series as a valuable learning experience despite remaining winless as T20I captain, critics argued the final match presented an ideal opportunity to give Sooryavanshi additional experience rather than changing the lineup again.
Sooryavanshi’s difficult transition
Sooryavanshi entered the international setup on the back of a standout IPL campaign but found the step up challenging against England’s pace attack. Fast bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer, troubled the teenage batter with short-pitched deliveries.
Analysts have pointed to the pressure of expectations, technical adjustments and a lack of patience as factors behind his modest returns. Some believe introducing him during the Ireland series before facing England could have provided a smoother transition to international cricket.
Changes to support staff possible
India’s disappointing tour could also lead to changes behind the scenes. According to reports, at least one member of Gambhir’s support staff is expected to leave for an IPL franchise with a global network, while another departure is also being considered. With existing contracts nearing the two-year mark, the BCCI may reshape the coaching setup following the review of the UK tour.
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