Ravichandran Ashwin Sooryavanshi has once again defended his view on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s role in the Indian team, insisting that there is nothing wrong with the teenage batsman spending time on the bench and contributing to the team by carrying drinks during matches. The former India spinner had earlier supported the team management’s decision to leave Sooryavanshi out of the starting XI for the first T20I against Ireland. After India’s defeat in that match, Ashwin said the 15-year-old can still learn a lot by observing the matches closely and helping the team, including bringing drinks on the field. While the remarks drew criticism on social media from a section of fans who felt Ashwin was damaging the youngster, the veteran spinner has now clarified that his remarks were misunderstood and taken out of context. “We need to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi time. Obviously, the way he performed in the IPL, you have to play against him at some point. He is special. What I am trying to say is that there is no shame in carrying water. Why do people think that carrying water is a bad thing? When did the ethos of cricket change? I was a cricketer in Chennai in the 1990s and 2000s,” Ash said on the channel. ash ki butt. “When did running on the field to give water bottles to Indian players become less common?” he added. Sooryavanshi enters Ireland series with highlights of IPL 2026 rajasthan royalswhere he accumulated over 700 runs. Despite debut expectations, India retain their winning opening combination at T20 World Cup Abhishek Sharma swear Sanzhou Samsonleaving the teenager on the sidelines. During the match, Soriyavanshi was seen taking the field with drinks during the inter-innings break. Ashwin expressed similar sentiments immediately after the first T20I, stressing that watching matches from outside the playing squad is equally valuable for the development of young cricketers. “There is value in sitting outside and watching the game. Let him serve the team, help, even deliver water. A lot can be learned from this experience,” Ashwin said. “A great player doesn’t become a great player overnight. Once Vaibhav starts playing, he may never be dropped; it can happen, as it did Sachin Tendulkar. But if he spends some time outside of the starting lineup first, he’ll gain empathy and a better understanding of the team’s environment. He has a long and illustrious career ahead of him. Sitting outside is also a role,” Ashwin said after the first T20I of the series. India’s 0-2 series loss to Ireland has now shifted attention to the upcoming five-match T20I series against England starting from July 1. Whether Sooryavanshi finally wins his international debut remains uncertain. Before the opening game, the captain Shreyas Iyer Avoiding revealing the team’s plans suggests that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to continue to get opportunities given their performances over the past year.
