“How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?” Ashwin blasts critics after Dambulla controversy Cricket News:

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly defended teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following criticism that arose following the youth’s altercation with Sri Lankan players during the tri-series final in Dambulla.The incident happened after India’s defeat in the Super Over and quickly became a major talking point among fans and pundits. However, Ashwin believed the reaction was overblown and warned against turning the criticism into a personal attack on a young cricketer still learning the demands of the international game.Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin questioned why so many people were quick to target Sooryavanshi at once.“All we can do is speak with hate. And what happens then? If the person we hate finally reads the things, it may affect them a little. But what do we achieve by speaking like that? That’s why I say this. How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?”Ashwin also pushed back against those who demanded more maturity from the teenager, reminding critics that age and experience should be taken into account before judgement.“Tell me, how can anyone hate him? And everyone is saying, ‘This child should show maturity. Have we forgotten that we are still children? Have we forgotten that there are children like that in our own families? This is a very dangerous trend,” he added.The former off-spinner went on to explain the difference between constructive criticism and hate, arguing that the two are often confused in modern discussions of the game.“What is the criticism? If now you are hosting the show and I tell you, ‘Vimal bhai, I don’t like hosting much now. Maybe we can pay attention here. Maybe this question can be asked differently. Maybe this point can be handled in a different way.’ That is criticism. Criticism means finding a way for a person to improve and improve. But what is hatred? Hate is when someone achieves something, and we continue to attack them with words. We keep trying to pull them down. That won’t happen,” said Ashwin.With Sooryavanshi possibly set for his India debut in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, Ashwin urged supporters and critics to let the youngster develop without the weight of constant scrutiny.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a cricketer. He performs for us. He is an entertainer with great skills. Forget his family, his well-wishers, his fans and the team management for a moment. As a sports lover, I just want him to enjoy cricket and play without pressure. After playing cricket for many years, I realized that playing freely, without baggage, is one of the hardest things to do. Until we can give that freedom, let him enjoy himself. Whether he succeeds or fails does not matter. The way he plays is a spectacle. Let the kid enjoy himself,” said Ashwin.The backing from Ashwin comes after a remarkable rise for Sooryavanshi. Despite suggestions that the opposition bowlers were working on his game ahead of IPL 2026, the left-hander responded in surprising fashion. He amassed 776 runs to claim the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest player in the history of the tournament to finish as the leading run-scorer. In doing so, he surpassed established stars Virat Kohli:Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.His performances left the national selectors with little room for debate. Chairman: Ajit Agarkar it was later acknowledged that Sooryavanshi’s exploits effectively forced the selection committee to include him in India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series.The youngster also carried his form into the India A setup, hitting a match-winning 94 against Sri Lanka A in the tri-series final, further strengthening his case ahead of what could be a landmark international debut.