Gautam Gambhir Explains Vaibhav's Exclusion From Afghanistan Series XI
India coach Gautam Gambhir has addressed the exclusion of 15-year-old Vaibhav from the playing XI during the series against Afghanistan. Gambhir emphasized that players who have performed consistently over the past few years take priority over newcomers.
Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir has provided a clear explanation regarding the omission of young player Vaibhav from the playing XI during the recent series against Afghanistan. Despite expectations surrounding the squad selections, the 15-year-old cricketer did not feature in any of the three matches played against the Afghan side.
Addressing the decision on Vaibhav's absence from the team sheet, Gautam Gambhir stated that the management had a completely transparent and clear conversation with the youngster. According to the coach, Vaibhav was informed directly that he would need to exercise patience and wait for his opportunity to break into the playing combination.
Expanding further on the selection policy within the team, Gautam Gambhir stressed that age is not the determining factor when managing squad expectations. Whether a player is 15 years old or 30 years old, the established protocol and rule of the game dictate that they must wait patiently when asked to do so by the team management.
Gautam Gambhir also highlighted the internal competition for places within the squad, noting that established protocol favors proven performers. He explained that players who have delivered consistent performances over the preceding two to three years will always receive priority over anyone who is newly introduced to the setup.
The context of the team's ongoing matches featured notable performances from other squad members, including Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek made headlines by setting the record for the fastest century in international T20 matches among full-member nations, which successfully powered India to a massive victory by a margin of 127 runs.
Vaibhav's current wait for a recall comes following his international debut for India back in July against England. Following that initial breakthrough series, the 15-year-old had managed to score two half-centuries across his first six T20 international appearances before finding himself benched for the entire Afghanistan series.
