R Ashwin Hits Back at Journalist for Criticising Vaibhav Sooryavanshi During India A Tour

R Ashwin, the former Indian superstar has come out strongly to defend Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the teenage cricketer got involved in an ugly spat with the Sri Lanka A players during one of the matches between the two sides in the ongoing triseries in Sri Lanka.

The onfield event broke out after India’s heartbreaking loss to Sri Lanka A in the super over last week, and it didn’t take long for critics to express their hatred towards Sooryavanshi and how he handled the situation. 

Ashwin, however, believes that the reactions pouring in from people outside the field went way beyond criticism and has tipped into far more troubling. Speaking on his show, ‘Ash Ki Baat,’ Ashwin voiced that there is a big gap between offering constructive feedback to someone and simply tearing them down. “All we can do is talk with hate. And what happens then?” he asked. 

“If the person we are having eventually read those things, it might affect them a little. But what do we achieve by talking like that? That is why I am saying this. How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?”

Ashwin took an aim at the people who are demanding that Sooryavanshi must behave with more composure, reminding them that every grown adult was once a child themselves, and that plenty of households have kids who may react the exact same way as Sooryavanshi did under pressure. 

“Everyone is saying, ‘this kind should have shown maturity. He must have spoken with more maturity.’ Have we all forgotten that we too were children once? Have we forgotten that there are children like that in our own families as well? This is a very dangerous trend,” he opined. 

Ashwin further raised a question, why does everyone feel the need to weigh in and blame Sooryavanshi without knowing exactly what was said or who things unfolded on the field. “We don't know from a distance what was said, how he reacted. We are saying this is writing, this kind should have spoken carefully, should have done it with manners.” he said. 

“Man this happens. It is a sport where you are putting all your emotions and body on the line. Sometimes it happens, anyone can make mistakes. But tell me, how can anyone give him hatred? This is a dangerous trend.”

When will Sooryavanshi play for India?

As Sooryanashi has earned his maiden call up to the Indian team, on asked when will he play for team India, Ashiwn replied, for now the teenager still has a lot of work to do to break into the playing XI, with Sanju Samon, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan all vying for the opening slot. 

India will take on Ireland in two T20Is in Belfast on June 26 and June 28, before going to England for a five-match T20 series, starting from July 1.