Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has strongly defended teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following the criticism that emerged after the youngster’s altercation with Sri Lankan players during the tri-series final in Dambulla.The incident took place after India’s defeat in the Super Over and quickly became a major talking point among fans and experts. However, Ashwin believes the reaction has been excessive and warned against turning criticism into personal attacks 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 over a single moment.“All we can do is talk with hate. And what happens then? If the person we are hating eventually reads those things, it might affect them a little. But what do we achieve by talking like that? That is why I am saying this. How can you hate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?”Ashwin also pushed back against those demanding greater maturity from the teenager, reminding critics that age and experience must be taken into account before passing judgement.“Tell me, how can anyone hate him? And everyone is saying, ‘This kid should have shown maturity. He should have spoken with more maturity.’ Have we forgotten that we too were children once? 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 hatred, arguing that the two are often confused in modern sporting discussions.“What is criticism? If today you are hosting the show and I tell you, ‘Vimal bhai, I didn’t like the hosting so much today. Maybe we can pay attention here. Maybe this question could have been asked differently. Maybe this point could have been handled differently.’ That is criticism. Criticism means finding a path for someone to move forward and improve. But what is hatred? Hatred is when somebody has achieved something, and we keep attacking them with words. We keep trying to pull them down. That does not happen,” said Ashwin.With Sooryavanshi potentially set for his India debut in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland, Ashwin urged supporters and critics alike to allow the youngster to develop without the weight of constant scrutiny.“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a cricketer. He performs for us. He is an entertainer with immense skill. Forget his family, his well-wishers, his fans and the team management for a moment. As a lover of the sport, I just want him to enjoy cricket and play without pressure. After playing cricket for so many years, I’ve realised that playing freely, without baggage, is one of the hardest things to do. As long as we can give him that freedom, let him enjoy himself. Whether he succeeds or fails doesn’t 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 opposition bowlers had worked out his game before IPL 2026, the left-hander responded in stunning fashion. He amassed 776 runs to claim the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest player in tournament history to finish as the leading run-scorer. In doing so, he outscored established stars Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.His performances left the national selectors with little room for debate. Chairman Ajit Agarkar 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, smashing 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.