Former West Indies captain Sir Clive Lloyd has criticized Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his altercation with Sri Lanka A player Vishen Halambage during the 2026 Tri-Nation A series. Lloyd said the young Indian opener should have reported the alleged verbal abuse to the match referee instead of confronting him on the field.
The incident took place after Sri Lanka A defeated India A in a dramatic Super Over. Following the match, Halambage allegedly provoked Vaibhav, which led to a heated exchange and a physical push between the two players. Sri Lankan players and umpires intervened to calm the situation on the field.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Would Have a Very Good Test - Sir Clive Lloyd
Speaking to RevSportz, Sir Clive Lloyd shared his views on how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have fared against the legendary West Indies pace attack. He said the teenager has excellent ball-striking ability and sharp eyesight, adding that he possesses the talent to succeed at the highest level.
"Well, he would have a very good test. It’d be testing his character, his skills, and so on. He’s got good eyesight. He’s a good striker of the ball. So, it would have been a good test for our bowlers as well," Lloyd told RevSportz.
"Why it was difficult to decipher what the bowlers were doing because they all did something different so it would have been a great test, there’s no doubt about that. But I think this guy’s got ability and I’m sure that if he continues to play in the manner that he is playing, and that they don’t try to change his style of play, I think we have a young man that we’ll be watching for quite a long while."
EXCLUSIVE 🎙️
"He's very exciting, and I'm sure we'll have many more years of watching him." — Clive Lloyd on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Full interview airs at 12 Noon.@AgeasFederal @BoriaMajumdar #VaibhavSooryavanshi #CliveLloyd pic.twitter.com/BVgh316esU— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) June 20, 2026
Should Have Reported - Sir Clive Lloyd on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-Vishen Halambage Altercation
Clive Lloyd said that match officials should have stepped in and handled the confrontation between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Vishen Halambage. He added that players should report such incidents instead of taking matters into their own hands.
"Well, that's why we have referees. The referee should come and get involved. And once he's seen something like that, he will tell the umpires, referees and they should fine whoever is sledging people."
"So, I think the referee would be at fault given the rules that we have. We have a green book of rules where you're not supposed to sledge people. So, this young man should have reported him. Instead of having a confrontation with the opposing player."
How Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Has Performed in the Tri-Nation A Series
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed with the bat in the Tri-Nation A Series. The India A opener has scored 117 runs in four matches at an average of 29.25 and a strike rate of 153.94. His scores of 14, 44, 21 and 38 show that he has regularly provided quick starts, although he is yet to score a fifty.
The 14-year-old has continued to play his attacking game against quality bowling attacks. His 44 off 22 balls against Afghanistan A showcased his clean hitting, while his 38 off 28 gave India A early momentum. A strike rate above 150 shows that he has kept bowlers under pressure.
However, Vaibhav is still learning the demands of 50-over cricket. He has not yet converted his starts into a big score or batted deep into the innings. That is not a failure. India A cricket is meant to help young players develop these skills before stepping up to the senior level.
