Why is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi playing for India A instead of the senior ODI squad?

India A will open the Rising Stars Asia Cup against Nepal on November 20. The 50-over tournament runs from November 19 to 29. Tilak Varma captains the squad with Rajat Patidar as vice-captain. India A also meets Pakistan A on November 22 and UAE on November 24, with the final set for November 29.

Sooryavanshi has scored 564 runs in 13 List A matches at 43.38. He struck 190 off 84 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in December 2025 and holds the record for the fastest 150 in List A cricket. He previously featured in the 2025 Rising Stars Asia Cup, making 38 off 15 balls.

Yuvraj Singh urged selectors to add Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan to the ODI squad. Krishnamachari Srikkanth criticised Gautam Gambhir for benching Sooryavanshi after strong performances and said the team management is creating an atmosphere of insecurity.