Table of Contents
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has made a big prediction about young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. With India currently in Japan for their Asian Games 2026 campaign, Kaif believes the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could soon force his way into the playing XI.
Kaif feels a big-name player may have to make way for Sooryavanshi in the coming months. He has named vice-captain Tilak Varma and all-rounder Shivam Dube as the two players who could be under pressure to deliver, while also suggesting another option depending on the conditions in Japan. Amid this, Ravichandran Ashwin reveals retirement conversation with Ajit Agarkar.
Mohammad Kaif predicts Tilak Varma or Shivam Dube could make way for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Mohammad Kaif believes that either Tilak Varma or Shivam Dube could be dropped within the next six months to give a chance to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the team. He pointed out that being the vice-captain does not guarantee Tilak a permanent place in the playing XI.
Kaif also feels Dube needs to prove himself, as his performances don't meet the expectations lately. He pointed out Dube’s inconsistency, poor fielding and the important fact that he is being used more as a batter than a proper bowling all-rounder.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif said, "I understand that Tilak is the vice-captain. But vice-captains have also been dropped before. I do not want to go there. Shivam Dube is not scoring in every game and still has to prove himself.
Fielding is also his weakness, and he is not a proper bowling all-rounder. He is only playing as a batter. After six months, either Tilak or Dube will be out. You will have to remove one, and Suryavanshi will play. I am saying this right now.”
Mohammad Kaif wants Yash Thakur out to make room for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Sharing his thoughts on India’s bowling combination for the Asian Games 2026, Kaif has noted that if the conditions remain slow rather than batting-friendly, just like the one-off T20I between India and Japan, he believes the Men in Blue may not need six bowlers. Amid this, Rinku Singh urges selectors to pick Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli for 2027 World Cup.
In that situation, Kaif said that the young pacer Yash Thakur could be left out to bring Vaibhav Sooryavanshi into the XI. The former Indian batter has pointed out that Thakur still has to prove himself, and a deserving player like Vaibhav is not getting a chance because he is a bowler.
Kaif feels Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel can together cover 12 overs, while Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah can complete the bowling attack.
He added, “If you make a team according to the conditions in the Asian Games, Suryavanshi can fit in. You can leave Yash Thakur out. There will not be flat or batting-friendly pitches. If the wickets are slow, you can leave Yash out.”
Mohammad Kaif defends Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s all-format potential
Recently, former England cricketer Monty Panesar raised questions about Sooryavanshi’s technique in red-ball cricket. But Kaif feels it is too early to judge the teenager. The cricket pandit has further pointed to Virender Sehwag as an example.
Kaif signed off by saying, “The way Sehwag used to bat, everyone thought he was only a white-ball player. But he had an average of 50 in tests. His average was lower in white-ball cricket. If he played all formats, Vaibhav would be just 15 right now. The sample size is very small. The debate over whether he can play all three formats right now is far-fetched.”
