India head coach Gautam Gambhir has urged for patience from teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as the young opener waits for his opportunity in India’s T20I setup. Sooryavanshi was once again made to warm benches, watching from the sidelines during India’s final T20I against Afghanistan on Thursday in Delhi. Sooryavanshi was expected to be given a chance during the final T20I after India clinched victories in the first two games to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. 

Even the youngster might have hoped for a chance, but the management continued with the more experienced opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. They both also repaid faith during the third T20I, single-handedly taking the side to victory. Abhishek Sharma slammed a spectacular innings, smashing one of the fastest centuries ever recorded in men’s T20 internationals. Samson also made a major contribution, hitting a half-century.

"I think he (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 obviously the way he had performed before that," Gambhir said at the press conference.

"But again, sometimes you go with the players' form as well. From my point of view, I was very clear that we wanted to go back to the combination we had during the World Cup, because those guys, after three or four failures, do not become bad players. If a team that has gone unbeaten from one World Cup to another one unbeaten and has won the World Cup, I am sure it is a gun team. Suddenly, it does not become a bad team after one series, and these guys do not become bad players after two or three players," he said.

Gambhir further appeared to be clear in his view, asserting that Sooryavanshi needs to wait for his opportunity. 

"From Vaibhav's point of view, it was 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 two 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’s what Indian cricket is all about,” he said. 

“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."