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'Sometimes you will have to wait' - Gautam Gambhir explains Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's exclusion

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has publicly clarified why teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing eleven for the recent T20I series against Afghanistan, despite the youngster's stellar form. Sooryavanshi has enjoyed a phenomenal run, accumulating 193 runs in six T20Is since his debut in July 2026, starring as the leading scorer and MVP for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 IPL season, and capturing an Asian Games gold medal as the youngest Indian to do so.

Addressing the selection on the program Follow the Blues: Gautam Gambhir Unfiltered, Gambhir explained that squad composition must prioritize stability and respect for senior players over short-term public pressure or social media noise. The coach emphasized that dropping established performers like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma after a few setbacks would destabilize the dressing room culture.

Samson appeared in all three matches of the clean sweep against Afghanistan, contributing two half-centuries while cementing the coach's commitment to continuity.

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Inside coach Gambhir's chat with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over his T20I selection