India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about his conversation with 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, explaining why the youngster has had to wait for his opportunity despite being in good form.
Vaibhav’s limited opportunities have become a talking point among fans, especially with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma continuing as India’s preferred opening combination in T20I cricket.
Speaking on JioStar’s Follow the Blues: Gautam Gambhir Unfiltered, Gambhir said he personally spoke to Vaibhav and explained that being in form does not always guarantee an immediate place in the playing XI.
Gambhir Tells Vaibhav to Wait for His Opportunity
Gambhir admitted that it was a new experience for him as well, but said he wanted Vaibhav to understand how team selection works.
The coach explained that sometimes a young player has to wait because other players have already performed consistently over a long period.
Gambhir also made it clear that decisions about the playing XI are not based on social media discussions or outside pressure. According to him, the captain and coaching staff have to decide which combination gives India the best chance of winning a match.
For Vaibhav, that has meant waiting despite his impressive performances and current form.
Why Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma Continue
The biggest challenge for Gambhir and the team management is that both Samson and Abhishek have established themselves as India’s opening options.
Gambhir pointed out that simply bringing Vaibhav into the XI would mean leaving out one of the two established openers. He said that would lead to a difficult conversation with whichever player gets dropped.
“If Vaibhav plays today, then it’s going to be a tough conversation between me and whoever we leave out, whether it’s Abhishek or whether it’s Sanju,” Gambhir explained.
He stressed that the team cannot suddenly ignore a combination that has made a strong impact over the last one-and-a-half to two years just because of a few failures.
‘Sometimes You Will Have to Wait’
Gambhir’s message to Vaibhav was essentially about patience.
The coach acknowledged that the youngster is talented and in good form, but said that opportunities have to be managed carefully. He also wants to create a sense of security within the dressing room so established players know that a few bad games will not immediately cost them their place.
The approach also reflects the team’s desire to maintain continuity rather than constantly changing the playing XI.
For a 15-year-old like Vaibhav, the wait may be frustrating, but Gambhir believes it is also part of learning how international cricket works.
Gambhir Defends His Selection Decisions
Gambhir has faced criticism over several selection calls, particularly on social media. However, he said that taking decisions based on popularity is not his priority.
He admitted that taking a popular decision is easy, while making what he believes is the correct decision can be much harder.
For Gambhir, continuing with Samson and Abhishek has been the right call because of the consistency and impact they have provided over a significant period.
‘One Bad Series Doesn’t Make Them Bad Players’
Gambhir also defended the established players against the idea that a few poor performances should immediately lead to changes.
He pointed out that no team in sporting history can remain undefeated throughout the period between two World Cups and then simply win the next tournament without facing setbacks.
His argument is that one bad series or a few disappointing games should not suddenly make a player a poor performer or make the entire team a bad side.
That belief has played a major role in India’s decision to stick with their existing combination while Vaibhav waits for his chance.
For the teenage batter, the message from Gambhir is clear: his opportunity will come, but patience is also part of becoming an international cricketer.
