Manoj Tiwary Says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Must Be Prepared for Provocation After Dambulla Row
Manoj Tiwary believes rivals will target Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the India A v Sri Lanka A clash and says the teenager must choose how he wants to play.
By SportCricket Desk · 17 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has said young players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi need to be ready for provocation, following the confrontation after India A’s Super Over loss in Dambulla.
The background
On June 15, Sooryavanshi was involved in a push-and-shove exchange with Sri Lanka A’s Vishen Halambage after the Super Over defeat. Halambage has reportedly faced sanctions, while the young Indian batter has not been penalised.
Tiwary’s view
Tiwary suggested that India’s growing strength in the game leads to more verbal battles on the field, because many countries are envious. He said Sooryavanshi must understand this. In his view, the teenager’s IPL campaign and rapid rise mean opponents will target him more, and the team must prepare him for that.
He also said the youngster has to decide what kind of image he wants to build. One route, he said, is the calm and composed style of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. The other is the aggression associated with Virat Kohli.
Concern over form
Tiwary also raised concerns about Sooryavanshi’s recent form, noting that he was dismissed for 38 off 28 balls in the latest match. He felt the incident might be affecting his batting, and urged him to stay within the spirit and laws of the game while learning from the experience.
