India head coach Gautam Gambhir has asked teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to remain patient as the team continues to rely on the more experienced opening combination of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in T20Is.
Sooryavanshi was left out of India’s playing XI for the third T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday, with Abhishek and Samson once again opening the innings. India completed a 3-0 series sweep with a commanding 127-run victory, while Abhishek produced a record-breaking performance.
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The left-hander smashed a century that became the third-fastest hundred in men’s T20I cricket, underlining the form that has made him one of India’s most exciting batters. Samson also contributed strongly during the series, with the pair finishing as the leading run-scorers across the three matches.
With both experienced openers performing consistently, Gambhir said Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his opportunity.
“From Vaibhav’s point of view, it was a very clear conversation that he will have to wait for his opportunity,” Gambhir said.
The India coach acknowledged the teenager’s talent but stressed that established performers would naturally be ahead of a player who has only recently entered the international setup.
“We know the kind of talent he has and what he can do, but someone who has been performing for the last two to three years will always be ahead of someone who has just entered the team,” Gambhir said.
Gambhir also indicated that when Sooryavanshi gets another opportunity, India intends to give him an extended run rather than judging him on a single appearance.
“Whenever he gets his run, he will get a longer run as well,” he said.
Sooryavanshi has already made an impressive beginning to his senior international career. Since making his T20I debut against England in July, the teenager has scored two half-centuries in six appearances.
His rise comes after a remarkable Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year, where he produced a memorable 175 off 80 balls against England in the final.
For now, however, India appear committed to the opening combination that helped them win the T20 World Cup at the start of the year. Gambhir said the coaching staff wanted to return to the pairing of Abhishek and Samson during the Afghanistan series.
He also defended the experienced players from the idea that a few failures should result in their immediate exclusion.
“Those guys, after three or four failures, do not become bad players,” Gambhir said.
According to Gambhir, India’s unbeaten run from one World Cup to another, combined with their T20 World Cup triumph, demonstrated the strength of the team.
“Suddenly, it doesn’t become a bad team after one or two series, and these guys do not become bad players after two or three failures,” he added.
The situation leaves Sooryavanshi waiting for his next chance, while Abhishek and Samson continue to build on their successful partnership at the top of India’s T20I order.
