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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Forced Gautam Gambhir’s Toughest T20I Call
Gautam Gambhir is India’s cricket coach.
He said one team-selection decision kept him awake at night.
He had to leave Sanju Samson out even though Samson had recently played very well.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was also in excellent form and needed a chance.
Sooryavanshi made his India debut against England.
After a few low-scoring innings, Samson returned to the team.
Sooryavanshi then had to sit out the Afghanistan series.
Gambhir said players sometimes have to wait even when they are playing well.
Gautam Gambhir said dropping Sanju Samson caused his only sleepless night as India’s T20I coach.
Samson had been Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup before being left out against England.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s strong form, including a record-breaking IPL season and Under-19 World Cup final century, influenced the decision.
Sooryavanshi debuted in the second England T20I but was later replaced by Samson after three low-scoring innings.
Gambhir said Sooryavanshi then had to wait during the Afghanistan series while India prioritized established performers.
- Who
- India head coach Gautam Gambhir, Sanju Samson, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
- What
- Gambhir discussed his difficult decision to leave Samson out and manage Sooryavanshi’s selection.
- Where
- During India’s T20I fixtures against England and Afghanistan.
- When
- Gambhir made the comments on September 23, 2026; the selection decisions occurred during the 2026 season.
- Why
- Gambhir said Sooryavanshi’s form created competition at the top of the order, while India also wanted continuity with established players and needed to win the England series.
Key facts
- Coach
- Gautam Gambhir
- Difficult decision
- Leaving Sanju Samson out of the T20I side
- Tournament context
- Samson had been Player of the Tournament at the 2026 T20 World Cup
- Debut
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his international debut in the second T20I against England
- Sooryavanshi’s form
- He was coming off a record-breaking IPL 2026 season and an Under-19 World Cup final century
- Later selection
- Sooryavanshi was replaced by Samson after three low-scoring innings
- Afghanistan series
- Sooryavanshi did not feature in the playing XI
Quotes
Gautam Gambhir
India men’s head coach discussing his decision to leave Sanju Samson out of the T20I side.
“Vaibhav was in that kind of form, and we needed someone to score runs at the top; we needed that little bit of platform at the top as well. And he was fine with it.”
news18.com
“Probably that was, I’ll be honest with you, in two years of my journey, that was the only night I could not sleep.”
news18.com
Sources
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