New Delhi, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian cricket team, recently shared insights from his conversation with young player Vaibhav Suryaanshi. The 15-year-old cricketer, who made headlines earlier this year, was advised by Gambhir that despite strong performances, players often need to wait for their opportunities.
Suryaanshi became the youngest Indian to play international cricket in July when he debuted in a T20 match against England at just 15 years and 99 days old, breaking a long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar. He also set another record as the youngest player to score a half-century in men’s international cricket, achieving this milestone against Zimbabwe at 15 years and 118 days.
However, Suryaanshi faced challenges in securing a spot in the playing XI during the series against Afghanistan and in the Asian Games, where he played only one T20 match against Japan. He returned to the squad for the Asian Games semi-final against Sri Lanka, scoring 38 runs off 21 balls, contributing significantly to India’s success.
Gambhir remarked on ‘GeoStar’, “This was a new experience for me too. Yes, he was in good form, but I explained that sometimes players have to wait for their chances due to those who have performed well for a longer time. It’s important to remember that social media and external opinions do not determine the playing XI.”
He elaborated that the dynamics within the dressing room and the players’ ability to contribute to match victories are crucial factors in team selection. “We cannot overlook the team combination that has performed excellently over the past year and a half. We cannot drop experienced players for a young talent, regardless of their potential, if they have been consistently performing well.”
Gambhir emphasized the importance of maintaining a safe and stable environment within the dressing room. Suryaanshi, at 15 years, six months, and six days, became the youngest Indian to win a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, surpassing the previous record held by shooter Saurabh Chaudhary from the 2018 Games.
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