Following India’s three-match Twenty20 series sweep against Afghanistan, coach Gautam Gambhir has stressed that 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must remain patient for his next chance to feature in the starting lineup. The young batter remained on the sidelines during the recent series, as the team utilized the opening partnership of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Abhishek delivered a standout performance during Thursday’s 127-run victory in New Delhi, recording the third-fastest century in T20 international history.
Sooryavanshi, who gained prominence as the highest scorer in this year’s Indian Premier League, made his international debut against England in July. While the top-order batter struggled during that series, he later responded with two half-centuries against Zimbabwe in Harare. Despite those performances, he has not featured for India since then.
Addressing the selection process, Gambhir explained to reporters that age is not the primary factor for inclusion. He noted that regardless of whether a player is 15 or 30, they must wait for the right opportunity, adding that those who have performed consistently over two or three years will currently rank ahead of newer arrivals. Gambhir emphasized that he wants to foster talent and healthy competition within the squad, promising that once Sooryavanshi receives his chance to play, he will be given a more extended run.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts to the Asian Games, with the squad set to travel to Nagoya. The team will compete in a one-off T20 match against hosts Japan this Tuesday, which precedes their Asiad quarterfinal fixture scheduled for September 28. The report also notes that “Whenever he gets his run, he will get a longer run as well … We want competition and talent in the dressing room,” Gambhir added.
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