Ravichandran Ashwin has once again defended his views 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 bringing drinks during matches. The former Indian off-spinner had earlier supported the team management’s decision to leave Sooryavanshi out of the playing eleven for the opening T20I against Ireland. After India’s defeat in that match, Ashwin remarked that the 15-year-old could still learn a lot by watching the game closely and helping the team, including by getting drinks on the field. While those comments drew criticism from fans on social media, who felt Ashwin was undermining 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. The way he played in the IPL, obviously you have to play him at some point. He is so special. What I am saying is that carrying water is not degrading. Why do people think carrying water is a bad thing? When did the ethics of cricket change? So carry water for cricketers,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Ash Ki Baat. “When did running on the field and handing a bottle of water to the Indian players become less?” he added. Sooryavanshi entered the Ireland series after a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with the Rajasthan Royalswhere he accumulated more than 700 runs. Despite expectations of a debut, India retained their T20 World Cup winning opening combination Abhishek Sharma and Saint Samsonleaving the teenager to the side. During the matches, Sooryavanshi was seen taking drinks on the field during breaks in the innings. Ashwin had made a similar point immediately after the first T20I, emphasizing that watching matches outside the playing XI can be valuable for a young cricketer’s development. “There is value in sitting out and watching the game, too. That he serves the team, helps, even brings water. There is a lot to learn from that experience,” said Ashwin. “A great player does not become a day. Once Vaibhav starts playing, he can never be abandoned; it could happen, as he did with Sachin Tendulkar. But if he spends some time outside the playing XI first, he will gain empathy and a better understanding of the team’s environment. He has a long and illustrious career ahead of him. Sitting out is also a role,” Ashwin had said after the first T20I of the series. India’s 2-0 series defeat in Ireland has now shifted focus to the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, which begins on July 1. Whether Sooryavanshi has finally earned his international debut remains uncertain. Before the opening, captain Shreyas Iyer avoided revealing the team’s plans, indicating that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to continue to receive opportunities given their performances in the format over the past year.
