Photo via Hindustan Times

The great Indian waiting list: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi joins the queue as coach Gambhir tightens the screws

India head coach Gautam Gambhir affirmed that 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi must remain patient after remaining on the bench throughout the T20I series against Afghanistan. Sooryavanshi entered the senior spotlight after securing the Orange Cap as the youngest recipient in IPL 2026, prompting chief selector Ajit Agarkar to label him impossible to omit.

However, he faces stiff competition from Sanju Samson, the Player of the Tournament from India's victorious 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, whom Gambhir previously found agonising to bench during three matches in England.

Despite demonstrating growing maturity during a recent tour of Zimbabwe, the teenager's earlier displays highlighted a steep learning curve. Across three outings in the UK, Sooryavanshi struggled against moving deliveries, mirroring an uneven stretch in Sri Lanka where he totaled 117 runs across four matches before blasting 94 versus Sri Lanka A.