Dambulla: Former India cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has called for strict disciplinary action against teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following his recent on-field altercation during the India A tour of Sri Lanka.

Expressing his views on social media on Wednesday, Manjrekar said the young opener should have been left out of the India A playing XI for the match against Afghanistan A as a clear message that physical aggression on the field is unacceptable.

“If I was India A coach or manager, I would have left Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out for this game versus Afghanistan,” Manjrekar wrote on his official X account. He further stressed that disciplinary standards must be upheld regardless of the circumstances leading to the incident.

“Only to let him know that it’s not OK to get physical on the field. Whatever the provocations,” he added.

The remarks came in the wake of a heated confrontation between Sooryavanshi and Sri Lankan bowler Vishen Halambage during a recent match in Dambulla. The incident escalated into a physical exchange, with both players seen pushing each other before umpires and teammates intervened to defuse the situation.

Following a review of the incident, match officials imposed a 50 per cent fine on both players’ match fees for breaching the code of conduct. Despite the disciplinary action and growing criticism from several quarters, the India A team management retained the 15-year-old opener in the squad for the Afghanistan A fixture.

Sooryavanshi, however, failed to make a substantial impact with the bat, scoring 38 runs off 28 deliveries before being dismissed during the powerplay.

Manjrekar’s comments have sparked debate among cricket followers and experts, with opinions divided over whether young players should be given greater leeway or subjected to stricter disciplinary measures to instill professionalism at an early stage of their careers.