Belfast (Ireland): Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the darling of India these days.
His maiden selection in the senior national team recently was greeted with great enthusiasm.
But even as fans expected the red-hot 15-year-old Vaibhav to play the first match of the UK tour, an ODI against Ireland, they were left terribly disappointed.
Sreyash Iyer, who replaced Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20 skipper, won the toss and decided to bowl first.
The toss presenter asked him the most obvious question – Is Sooryavanshi playing?
“Unfortunately no,” Iyer said.
“He’s a gun player, but we’ve got tremendous experience in the squad. They’ve done brilliantly over the past couple of series, so we’re backing the players who have performed. He’ll get his opportunity when the time comes,” the new captain explained why the wonderkid was not part of the playing XI.
The hype and clamour around Vaibhav possibly making history by becoming Team India’s youngest international debutant could not be missed.
Even Sony Sports Network, the broadcaster, had made Vaibhav the face of their posters, despite the presence of big names like Iyer, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh.
The local fans bought tickets hoping to watch the 15-year-old prodigy bat.
Alas, they were all left disappointed.
“Can’t believe India haven’t picked Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.. the best T20 player at the moment in the World .. #India,” former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote on X.
“Why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t playing beats me. I would have watched the match just to see him play… now not going to watch it. BCCI isn’t playing its biggest Revenue earner,” expressed one user.
“No debut for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Why do you need six bowling options against Ireland? Mind rankles #IREvIND,” opined former Karnataka and India pacer Dodda Ganesh.
Some even said the fans were betrayed by the Indian team management.
Here are some other reactions and memes over Vaibhav being ignored:
How many more performances does Vaibhav need to earn a place?
This isn’t against Team India. It’s about backing deserving talent. When form is ignored, fans are bound to question the selection.
No Vaibhav. No Watch.
Talent deserves opportunities.#indiavsIreland #sooryavanshi pic.twitter.com/R9NgzXs8y5— Shishu Singh🇮🇳 (@shishuaman) June 26, 2026
When India is bowling first and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not playing against Ireland pic.twitter.com/7zAwtZxp2Z
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) June 26, 2026
vaibhav sooryavanshi is not playing against ireland today
indian fans : pic.twitter.com/FbgsLfq1jb
— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) June 26, 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi not playing today.
Not done. Why he couldn’t be the part of Playing eleven that even against Ireland.Audience is feeling betrayed, they bought tickets to watch him bat. Not fair #vaibhavsooryavanshi
— Cosmic Dust (@cosmicdust2026) June 26, 2026