India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will need to wait for his opportunities after India sealed the series against Afghanistan by 3-0 on Thursday. Sooryavanshi didn’t get his chance in three T20Is against Afghanistan as Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma were preferred as openers.

The youngster had opened the innings in the series against Zimbabwe and had scored 151 runs in three games of the series, thus winning the Player of the Series award. Furthermore, he scored 192 runs in five innings of the Duleep Trophy for East Zone.

Gambhir said the communication with Sooryavanshi has been clear regarding his place in the team.

Gautam Gambhir said in the post-match press conference, “From Vaibhav’s point of view, it is again a very clear conversation that he has to wait for his opportunity. We know the kind of talent he has. We know what he can do. But again, someone who has done extremely well over a period of years obviously will always be ahead of someone who has got into the team. Whenever he gets that chance, you will get a longer run as well.”

“And that is what Indian cricket is all about. We want competition, we want that talent in the dressing room. But sometimes that’s how cricket goes. Whether it is a 15-year-old or a 30-year-old, you have to wait for opportunity,” the former India opener added.

On the other hand, Gambhir admitted it was a tough decision to drop Sanju Samson from England T20Is. Samson played two out of the five T20Is against England, whereas Sooryavanshi played three games.

Gambhir concluded, “I think Samson showed what he is capable of. Someone doesn’t become Player of The Tournament in the World Cup without having talent, so he has done enough. Obviously, it was tough – probably the toughest decision I have taken in my coaching career, was leaving him out of that England series because of the way he had performed before that.”

India will next take on Japan in a one-off T20I.