Ravichandran Ashwin once again defended his views on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s role in the Indian squad, insisting that there is nothing wrong with teenage batters spending time on the bench and contributing to the team by carrying drinks during matches. The former India off-spinner earlier supported the team management’s decision to leave Sooryavanshi out of the playing XI for the opening T20I against Ireland. After India’s loss in that match, Ashwin said that the 15-year-old could still learn a lot by observing the match closely and helping the squad, including carrying drinks on the field. While the comments drew criticism from sections of fans on social media, who felt that Ashwin was vilifying the child, the veteran spinner has now clarified that his remarks were misunderstood and taken out of context. “We have to give Vaibhav Sooryavanshi time. The way he played in the IPL, obviously, you have to play him at some point. He is special. What I am saying is that carrying water is not bad. Why do people think that carrying water is a bad thing? When did the behavior of cricket change? In the 1990s and Ii was a balloon in, Chen 2000s. the cricketers then,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. “When did running onto the field and handing a bottle of water to the Indian players become trivial?” he added. Sooryavanshi enters the Ireland series on the back of a sensational IPL 2026 campaign with: Rajasthan Royalswhere he accumulated more than 700 runs. Despite expectations of a debut, India stuck to their T20 World Cup-winning opening combination of: Abhishek Sharma and: Sanju Samsonleaving the teenager on the sidelines. During the matches, Sooryavanshi was seen drinking liquor on the field during breaks in the innings. Ashwin made a similar point after the first T20I, stressing that watching games from outside the playing XI can be just as valuable for a young cricketer’s development. “There is value in sitting outside and watching the game, too. Let him serve the team, help, even bring water. There is a lot to learn from that experience,” Ashwin said. “A great player doesn’t become one overnight. Once Vaibhav starts playing, he doesn’t drop; it happens, like it happened in Sachin Tendulkar. But if he spends some time outside the playing XI, he will gain empathy and a better understanding of the team environment. He has a long and distinguished career ahead of him. Sitting out is also a role,” Ashwin said after the first T20I of the series. India’s 2-0 series loss to Ireland has now shifted focus to the upcoming five-match T20I series against England, which begins on July 1. Whether Sooryavanshi will finally get his international debut remains uncertain. Forward to the opening, captain Shreyas Iyer refrained from revealing the team’s plans, indicating that Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are likely to continue to embrace the opportunities provided by their performances in the format last year.