Why Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Not Playing In India vs West Indies 1st T20I?

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the bench in India vs West Indies 1st T20I - (Source: AFP)On Tuesday, October 6, India and West Indies locked horns for the 1st of the five-match T20I series at the Ekana Stadium. Eyes were on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who is yet to play a solitary T20I on Indian soil.Much to everyone’s disappointment, Sooryavanshi missed out of the playing XI, as confirmed by Shreyas Iyer at the toss. During the coin flip, India skipper Shreyas Iyer remarked that the Men in Blue are going ahead with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma as the openers.The fans were disappointed because Vaibhav Sooryavanshi featured in the Asian Games in Japan and now sits on the bench. Amid the curiosity, this article will shed light on the reason why Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not playing in India vs West Indies 1st T20I?Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Ouster: A Tactical DecisionFor the unversed, during the Asian Games 2026, VVS Laxman was the head coach. Laxman opted for a unique playing XI, where he demoted Sanju Samson to No.3, allowing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open with Abhishek Sharma.However, for the ongoing series, Gautam Gambhir is back as the head coach. The former India opener has maintained his stance that Sooryavanshi has to wait for his opportunity. Gambhir does not support the idea of demoting Sanju down the order, which is why Sooryavanshi has to sit on the bench.ALSO READHarshit Rana Resumes Bowling At CoE, Fitness Status Still Unclear- ReportRecently, Gambhir also admitted that Sooryavanshi will have to wait for his chances despite being in stellar form with the bat.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Yet To Play A T20I in IndiaInterestingly, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is yet to play a T20I in India. The 15-year-old earned his maiden India call-up for UK tour. He sat on the bench in Ireland and made his debut against England, where he featured in 3 T20Is.Sooryavanshi’s second series was against Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe, where he again played 3 matches. Overall, Vaibhav has played 8 T20Is, including 2 Asian Games, scoring 246 runs, with an average of 30.75. The 15-year-old has two fifty-plus scores and is awaiting his maiden T20I century in Indian colours.ALSO READIND vs WI 1st T20I Toss Update: Naman Dhir Makes Debut As Shreyas Iyer Opts To Bowl