Gautam Gambhir Defends Selection Choices After Benched Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
· Sports · India Today, NDTV Sports, Sportstar
India head coach Gautam Gambhir has defended his decision to bench 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the fifth T20I against New Zealand. Despite the series being a dead rubber with India holding an unassailable 3-1 lead, the teenager was excluded from the playing XI. Gambhir stated that his responsibility is to make the right decisions rather than popular ones, citing the need for dressing room security and consistency. The coach noted that players who have performed well over a longer period deserve a longer run in the side. Sooryavanshi had previously featured in only two matches during the series after replacing an injured Ishan Kishan.
Why it matters
The decision underscores the team management's focus on established performance over experimental selection, impacting the development opportunities for young players in the Indian squad.
Read the original report — India Today
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