Virat Kohli’s Extreme Critic Gives Vaibhav Sooryavanshi A Brutal Reality Check

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi [Source: AFP]

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seems to be scaling new heights every month ever since he exploded onto the IPL circuit last year for the Rajasthan Royals. Impressing one-and-all with his batting exploits for the India Under-19 team and for the Royals in IPL cricket, many fans and experts are now backing the 15-year-old to make his international debut soon.

Vocal Virat Kohli critic and former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, is not fully convinced in Sooryavanshi’s abilities yet. The cricket expert believes that while the youngster has so far excelled in 20-overs cricket, he does not have the technique to make it big in other formats, especially in Test matches.

Sanjay Manjrekar questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite IPL success

Indian cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar recently praised rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his IPL success amid the ongoing IPL 2026 season. The former Indian cricketer also recalled the electrifying century he scored for the Bihar team in India’s prestigious T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

While speaking on Sportstar, Manjrekar said “Looking at IPL as a platform to stake a claim for the Indian T20 team, and keeping an eye on his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well, where he has a hundred [vs Maharashtra], I think he’s done enough. If someone is lighting up this stage like this, then he’s ready.”

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However, the cricket expert also claimed that Sooryavanshi’s batting technique, the one where he stays on the leg side and hits the middle stump ball through point, will not allow him to succeed in Test match conditions of England or Australia.

He added “Take all the consistent T20 batters in the last few years, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will stay leg side and hit a ball on middle stump through point because he’s staying leg side of the ball. In Test cricket, the advice is to get close to the ball. You will not get 20 runs in England or Australia, South Africa by staying away from the ball.”

Sanjay Manjrekar added that while T20 is an ideal platform for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to get “rich and famous”, he must learn how to hit the ball close to the line in a bid to succeed in Test cricket.

He said “If you want your kid to be famous and rich, T20 batting is for you. If you want him to get the respect of people like us, the critics, then get him to get close to the line of the ball.”

When Vaibhav Sooryavanshi won India the U19 World Cup

Contrary to Sanjay Manjrekar’s claims, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also left his mark in 50-overs cricket. Shortly after racking up a record 84-ball 190 against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, the youngster lifted the 2026 ICC Men’s U19 World Cup for the Indian U19 team in Zimbabwe.

In the final, the explosive left-hander blasted 175 runs from just 80 balls against a hapless English side.

Throwback to when Manjrekar questioned Virat Kohli in Test side

Way back in early 2012, Sanjay Manjrekar also took potshots at then rising star and India’s future captain Virat Kohli. Playing one of his first away Test series during India’s 2011-12 tour of Australia, the legendary Indian batter was questioned by Manjrekar, claiming that the former “does not belong” in the format.

With Virat Kohli becoming India’s most successful Test captain and one of the nation’s leading run-makers in the format, Manjrekar changed his stance and expressed his disappointment when the cricketer announced his retirement from red-ball cricket.

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