Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has predicted that either Tilak Varma or Shivam Dube would be out of the Indian T20I side to accommodate the teen batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the XI.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif reckoned that Tilak, despite being vice-captain, could lose his spot in the XI. Moreover, he said that Shivam Dube is also on the verge of losing his spot in the XI.
“I understand that Tilak is the vice-captain. But vice-captains have also been dropped before. I do not want to go there. Shivam Dube is not scoring in every game and still has to prove himself. Fielding is also his weakness, and he is not a proper bowling all-rounder. He is only playing as a batter. After six months, either Tilak or Dube will be out. You will have to remove one, and Sooryavanshi will play. I am saying this right now,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Further, Kaif shared his views on Sooryavanshi recently taking part in both batting and bowling departments in the Duleep Trophy 2026 campaign. He went on to add that the team management can’t keep him out of the XI for a long time.
“Sooryavanshi scored in the Duleep Trophy as well. He has improved his game. He was even bowling there. So he has understood that if he can bowl a few overs, he will have an advantage. It is a good thing. This is the hunger that he wants to make his place in the XI, and is seeing what he can do for it. I liked his mentality and approach. Looking at his overall development, you cannot keep him out for long,” he concluded.
