Gautam Gambhir Explains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Absence in Afghanistan series
India’s cricket coach, Gautam Gambhir, has clarified why young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did not play at all in the recently concluded T20 series against Afghanistan. Gambhir mentioned that the budding star will have to be patient and wait for his chance to return to the playing XI for India’s T20 team.
Sooryavanshi entered the series on a high after being named Player of the Series during the tour of Zimbabwe, where he scored 151 runs at an impressive strike rate of 196.10. However, with Sanju Samson’s return to the squad, Sooryavanshi found himself sidelined, a decision that disappointed many fans.
Even in the third and final match of the series on September 17, Sooryavanshi remained on the bench while Samson took the field.
Why Samson Over Sooryavanshi?
During a post-match press conference, Gambhir expressed that Samson’s consistent performance in the past few years warranted his selection. He recalled that it was a tough decision to drop Samson for Sooryavanshi during the England series, which he described as one of the hardest choices in his coaching career.
Gambhir emphasized the importance of going back to the winning formula they used during the T20 World Cup. He stated, “Samson has proven his worth. You don’t just become Player of the Tournament in the World Cup without real talent. Leaving him out during that England series was probably the toughest call I’ve made.”
He further explained, “Even after three or four failures, these players don’t lose their skill. This team has a history of success, and it doesn’t become a bad team after just one series.”
Samson performed well during the Afghanistan series, contributing two fifties and totaling 117 runs across the three matches.
Sooryavanshi Needs to Wait
Regarding Sooryavanshi, Gambhir acknowledged his immense talent but made it clear that Samson would always be favored for the time being. He reassured fans that when Sooryavanshi does get his opportunity, he will be given a fair chance to show what he can do.
Gambhir shared, “For Vaibhav, it’s a straightforward message: he must wait for his opportunity. We recognize his talent and potential, but established players who have proven themselves over several years will usually take precedence.”
He added, “That’s just how cricket works. Whether you’re 15 or 30, waiting for your chance is part of the game.”
Fans are now hoping to see Sooryavanshi in action in upcoming matches, such as the Japan T20I or the Asian Games.
