India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had indicated before the Ireland tour that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would need to wait for his opportunity, supporting the established middle-order options in the squad. According to NDTV, the discussion has intensified after Sooryavanshi does not feature in the Ireland matches, drawing criticism framed as “hypocrisy” toward the Gambhir-led team environment and selection approach.
The reporting centers on how roles and batting opportunities were communicated in advance. Kotak’s remarks, as cited by NDTV, point to a selection plan that prioritizes players already backed for specific roles—particularly Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson—rather than immediately rotating in Sooryavanshi. With Sooryavanshi’s absence from the Ireland lineup, critics argue the earlier messaging did not align with the outcome on the field.
Both accounts in the provided material tie the controversy to the same sequence: pre-series expectations about Sooryavanshi’s wait for a chance, followed by his non-appearance in the Ireland leg, leading to public debate around team management decisions.
