New Delhi, Sep 18 (V7N)- Despite being named Player of the Series during India's tour of Zimbabwe, 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi remained out of the playing XI throughout the T20I series against Afghanistan. India head coach Gautam Gambhir has now said the young batter must wait for his opportunity.

India completed a 3-0 series sweep against Afghanistan, with the team management opting for Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma while Vaibhav remained on the bench for all three matches.

Gambhir said there is no doubt about Vaibhav's talent, but players who have performed consistently over a longer period will naturally remain ahead of newcomers in the selection order.

Speaking at the post-match press conference on Thursday (September 17), Gambhir said Vaibhav's situation was straightforward and that he would have to wait for his chance.

He added that once Vaibhav gets an opportunity, the youngster is likely to receive an extended run. Gambhir also stressed that competition within the squad is important and that age should not determine when a player gets selected.

During India's Zimbabwe tour, Vaibhav opened alongside Abhishek Sharma in the absence of Samson. The left-handed batter scored 151 runs in six innings and was named Player of the Series.

However, Samson's return for the Afghanistan series pushed Vaibhav out of the playing XI. Samson, a member of India's World Cup-winning squad, strengthened his position by scoring two half-centuries during the series.

Gambhir also described leaving Samson out of India's England series as one of the most difficult decisions of his coaching career, saying the decision was based on the batter's recent form.

He emphasized that a player's ability should not be judged on the basis of a few poor performances and stressed the importance of backing members of the World Cup-winning squad.

Meanwhile, VVS Laxman is set to coach India's team, led by Shreyas Iyer, at the Asian Games. As a result, it remains uncertain whether Vaibhav will get an opportunity in the tournament.

END/SMA/AJ