Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath has shed light on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Sanju Samson selection dilemma ahead of the T20I series against the West Indies.
Sooryavanshi enjoyed a sensational IPL 2026 season, winning the Orange Cap after scoring 776 runs in 16 matches for Rajasthan Royals. He averaged 48.50 and had a stunning strike rate of 237.30, including one century and five fifties.
However, Badrinath feels the youngster’s massive media attention and the hype around him could have influenced the selection decision of the team on the England tour after he played ahead of Samson in three games.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir recently admitted that dropping Samson was one of the toughest decisions of his coaching career. Badrinath said he understood why the decision could have been difficult but suggested that factors beyond cricket may have played a role.
“Gautam Gambhir made a statement that he could not sleep after dropping Sanju Samson. He said that it was the most difficult decision. Maybe it must have been a difficult decision. As a coach, there is a lot to see. Vaibhav had a lot of media attention after that IPL season. He created a lot of hype, so the pressure does build irrespective of who the coach is. Maybe in that pressure you make some decisions. So I don’t think it was a cricketing decision. There can be reasons beyond cricket as well,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, the former CSK batter praised India’s top order – Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – for adopting an aggressive approach and playing freely irrespective of personal milestones on the cards.
“The game has changed, and the mindset of the Indian top order has also changed. Especially Rohit Sharma. I don’t know how much more to praise him. He was in the 90s but still he was not playing for numbers or hundreds. He is just playing to score maximum runs and understands his role. Even Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. I think this is a superb change. It is never seen before. It is not about the game or the talent but about the mindset. I really like this mindset,” he said.
Badrinath praised Shubman Gill for his consistent performances. Gill scored 334 runs in three games against the West Indies at an average of 167, and thus he was awarded Player of the Series.
“I want to talk about Gill. There were many mixed opinions about him. But I think he is one of the best players in the world. He is one for the future. I will say he is definitely a legend in the making. His approach and leadership also seem amazing to me. I think Team India is in the right hands.”
India’s next ODI series is against New Zealand.
