Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla defended the Indian team management after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi broke the record of being the youngest international debutant. The BCCI leader claimed that the player earned his position due to his own merit. Additionally, he defended the team management from social media critics who accused them of ignoring the 15-year-old star before he made his debut appearance.

Sooryavanshi made history during the second T20I match against England at Manchester.

He became India’s youngest-ever international cricketer, breaking the long-standing records of several legendary players. The 15-year-old and 99-day-old Sooryavanshi also became the youngest-ever Test-playing nation debutant in T20I matches.

BCCI states merit decides selection, not social media pressure

Speaking to ANI, Shukla congratulated the teenage sensation and stated that the BCCI does not choose anyone on the basis of popularity but merit.

“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s got a fantastic opportunity, huge congratulations to him (on debut). BCCI doesn’t pick people on a political basis; they pick people on merit.

Earlier, there was a huge reaction on social media, that you know, we are not getting opportunities, people are talking badly about the coach and the captain. But that was not the case. I myself said yesterday that whenever the opportunity comes, he will get it, and he got it (on debut). I think he will do well in the future; it’s a fantastic decision by the management, and we should congratulate him.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not last long in the innings but made an entertaining start, hitting two sixes in as many balls before being stumped by wicketkeeper-batsman Will Jacks.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become the second-youngest T20I centurion after his century debut against New Zealand in the second match of the series and the third youngest in Tests, following Sachin Tendulkar and Piyush Chawla’s record.

India’s innings saw Abhishek Sharma (43), Shreyas Iyer (37), Ishan Kishan (49) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (24) put on crucial stands for the visitors, but a middle-order collapse restricted them from chasing down the 191-run target. Sam Curran was the star performer for England with a sensational haul of 3/33.

Chasing down the total, the hosts were restricted to 190/7 as opener Phil Salt and Jos Buttler were all out for a duck, the first instance of England’s top order being all out in a T20I.

However, an explosive 39 by captain Harry Brook and an unbeaten 76 by Jacob Bethell saw England home with one over to spare, with Bethell remaining unbeaten on 76 after a crucial partnership with Tom Banton.
With the opening match of the T20I series between England and India washed out, the home side registered a win in the second match to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.