Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gets captain’s backing amid scrutiny over lack of form after on-field altercation: 'At this age...'

India A captain Tilak Varma has thrown his full support behind young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging fans and critics to give the teenager time as he continues to adjust to senior-level cricket in the ongoing Sri Lanka A-Team Tri-Series 2026.

The 15-year-old has been under the spotlight for both his form and a heated on-field incident during the previous match against Sri Lanka A. After Sri Lanka A won a tense Super Over finish to go top of the table, players were seen exchanging words while heading back to the dressing room.

The situation escalated when Sooryavanshi confronted a Sri Lankan player involved in the sledging and shoved him before officials and other players quickly stepped in to calm things down.

Sooryavanshi has had a mixed tournament so far, scoring just 117 runs in 4 matches at an average of 29.25 and a strike rate of 153.94. While he has shown flashes of brilliance, he is still searching for a big, match-defining innings in the series.

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The dip in consistency comes shortly after his standout performances in IPL 2026, where he had impressed with his fearless batting and earned a place in the senior India team. He is set to travel to Ireland and England next month for a T20I series and will likely make his debut there.

Tilak backs Vaibhav

Speaking about the youngster, Tilak Varma said that Sooryavanshi should not be burdened with expectations and must be allowed to play his natural game. He added that the team management is focused on supporting the teenager rather than trying to change his approach.

“It will definitely be challenging for him when he makes that transition to the senior men’s team. He’s come from U-19 cricket, had a fantastic IPL and is now representing a senior side. But he’s extremely talented. If he gets going, he can finish games on his own. The most important thing for someone like him is backing. Young players need freedom,” Tilak told Sportstar.

“I’ve told him to keep playing his natural game, enjoy and not take pressure. At his age, this is the time to learn and express himself. Whatever he has achieved so far has come from playing positively. There’s no reason to change that,” he added.

“As captain, I told him I’m always there if he needs anything. Just keep learning, keep enjoying the game and trust your strengths. So, we are backing him and hoping that he comes good in the final. And, if he gets going, we all know what he’s capable of doing,” Tilak said.

With India A set to face Sri Lanka A in the Tri-Series final on Sunday, all eyes will once again be on Sooryavanshi. The team management will hope the youngster can channel his aggression in a positive way and deliver a strong performance on the biggest stage of the tournament.