Cricket coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will wait for his next chance in the national team despite his good performances in recent months. The 15-year-old was among the most talked-about players during India’s T20I series against Afghanistan, but he didn’t get involved in any of the three matches as India won a 3-0 series sweep.
Sooryavanshi had the support of a huge crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and the young star could see his explosive batting in India colours at home. But Gambhir and the team management decided to keep the opening side of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson who had been part of India’s successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign.
The decision has proven successful for India. Abhishek and Samson combined for 346 runs in the three-match series, with a 142-run opening partnership for India in the last match. India finally won a dominant 127-run victory over Afghanistan to complete the series clean sweep.
Gambhir explained that the decision was influenced by the desire to return to the combination that had delivered success at the T20 World Cup. Indians don’t suddenly become poor performers after a few bad games, and the team wanted to give another combination another opportunity, he said.
The coach also addressed Sanju Samson’s situation and admitted that pulling the wicketkeeper-batter out of the England series had been one of the toughest decisions of his tenure. Gambhir pointed to Samson’s performances before that series and acknowledged the difficulty of making such selection calls.
All the while Gambhir said Sooryavanshi's impressive performances have not gone unnoticed. The teenage batter has already shown his ability at the international level and has produced numbers that have put him firmly on the selectors' radar.
Sooryavanshi was India’s youngest-ever international debutant earlier in the year when he made his debut in England. He scored 42 runs in three games and learned from the experience in a tough team. And he made a huge impact against Zimbabwe and finished as India’s leading run-scorer in the series.
At a strike rate of 196.10, he managed 151 runs at an average of 50.33 against Zimbabwe. His performances earned him the Player of the Series Award and raised the hope he could become a regular member of India’s T20I side.
However, Gambhir believes talent alone does not guarantee immediate selection. The head coach said he had a clear conversation with Sooryavanshi about his position in the team and that the youngster knew that he would have to wait for an opportunity.
Gambhir’s message was that age would not determine when a player gets selected. Whether a cricketer is 15 or 30, the same principle applies: opportunities have to be earned and players sometimes have to wait for their turn.
“We know what kind of talent he has. We know what he can do,” Gambhir said, while explaining that Sooryavanshi had been told to wait for his opportunity.
The coach also highlighted the performances of players who were given the responsibility of opening during the Afghanistan series. Abhishek Sharma and Samson made significant contributions and it’s difficult for the management to break up the partnership immediately.
For Sooryavanshi, the latest development won’t lessen the excitement about his career. His performances at such a young age have already made him one of the most followed young batters in Indian cricket. His ability to score quickly and attack bowling from the beginning has made him an intriguing option for India’s T20 setup.
But the Afghanistan series made it evident that India's batting line-up is competitive. With established performers performing consistently, even a very highly rated young player might find himself waiting for an opening.
So Gambhir’s comments reflect a broader selection philosophy: past performances, current form and team combinations can all play a role in selection, irrespective of age or reputation. For Sooryavanshi, his immediate task will be to get prepared for his next chance.
In the meantime, with India slowly putting together its own T20I squad, the teenager will be closely watched. His previous performances have already confirmed what he can do, but as Gambhir has demonstrated, international cricket is always about patience more than talent.
