Gambhir tells Sooryavanshi to wait for his moment

India coach Gautam Gambhir has advised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to exercise patience after the 15-year-old was left out of the opening partnership during India’s three-match Twenty20 International series sweep against Afghanistan. The decision to bench the young batter in favour of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson highlights a strategic preference for established performers who have maintained consistency over the last two to three years.

In the final match of the series, which India won by 127 runs in New Delhi, Abhishek Sharma scored the third-fastest century in T20 international history. This performance reinforced the current selection logic, which Gambhir described as a matter of institutional advantage for players with a longer track record in the team.

Gambhir acknowledged the raw talent of Sooryavanshi, who was the highest scorer in this year’s Indian Premier League. However, he noted that the young batter has yet to make a significant impact in international cricket since his debut against England in July, a series in which the hosts dominated India.

The selection process has been further complicated by Sooryavanshi’s recent form. While he scored two fifties against Zimbabwe in Harare in July, he has not played for India since that series. This gap in international exposure has allowed the established opening pair to consolidate their positions within the squad.

The coach emphasised that the dressing room requires both competition and talent. He indicated that once Sooryavanshi secures his place, he will be given a longer run of games to establish his consistency, rather than being rotated in and out of the side.

Sooryavanshi is scheduled to travel to Nagoya for India’s Asian Games campaign. The itinerary includes a one-off Twenty20 match against hosts Japan on Tuesday, followed by a quarterfinal contest on 28 September.